There are 3 types of carbohydrate;
Polysaccharides take time to be broken down and give a steady release of energy, these are complex and the largest of the carbohydrates
They are made from long chains of single sugar units called monosaccharides. This type of carbohydrate can be found in foods like bread, pasta, beans, potato, rice and cereals. Monosaccharides are perfect for giving a steady release of energy (McArdle, 2005).
Disaccharides can be found in foods like table sugar, milk and a few sports drinks, and broken down in minutes, meaning that the energy gained is used straight away (
Monosaccharide’s are essential to sports as they can be taken into the body during the event, the structure is perfect for consuming during sport as it can be quickly absorbed without the body having to supply energy in order to break it down and can be absorbed and used by working muscles within minutes (Jeukendrup and Gleeson, 2004).
Appendix 1.3
Usain Bolt is a Jamaican sprinter born in August 1986, weighing 86kg, height 6’5” (196cm) Bolt holds the Olympic world records for the 100 metres at 9.69 seconds, the 200 metres at 19.30 seconds and along with his team mates, the 4x100 metres relay at 37.10 seconds, all set at the 2008 Olympics.
Bolt became the first man to win all three events at a single Olympics since Carl Lewis in 1984, he is also the first man in history to set world records in all three at a single Olympics, Usain Bolt has earned the name as Lighting Bolt (IAAF, 2008).
Bolt uses a combination of plyometric training and weight training to build functional strength.
