When Aimee Fuller, a snowboarder from Team GB, arrived at the Sochi Olympics in 2014, she was surprised to find that the food hall lacked one essential item for her daily routine – a bowl of traditional oats. Despite the wide variety of food available in the Olympic Village, oats were missing.
In a desperate move, Aimee, 34, reached out to her grandmother, Susan McGough, who promptly flew to Russia with a suitcase filled with Quaker porridge to meet her granddaughter’s needs. Aimee emphasized the significance of oats in her routine, mentioning how her grandmother’s act of bringing oats to the Olympic squad was both fulfilling and essential for the team.
This unique experience between Aimee and Susan served as inspiration for a new collaboration between Quaker and Team GB in preparation for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. The partnership aims to provide British athletes with the same nourishing oat-based breakfasts that have been a cornerstone of Aimee’s athletic career.
For Aimee, consuming porridge was not just a habit but a family ritual. She shared a tradition of preparing oats with her late grandfather, which continued with her grandmother, incorporating various toppings like berries, nuts, and honey.
Reflecting on her family’s adaptability and acceptance, Aimee praised her grandmother for embracing change and supporting their diverse pursuits. Moreover, porridge played a significant role in her bond with her late coach, Nelson Pratt, as they enjoyed creating elaborate toppings together before their snowboarding sessions, a practice they fondly called ‘executive pRarge.’
Following Nelson’s passing, the porridge ritual became a tribute to their friendship, promoting mindfulness and joy in everyday moments. Throughout her Olympic journey, porridge remained a constant source of nourishment for Aimee, starting her training days with yoga and a hearty bowl of porridge enriched with protein sources like Greek yogurt or eggs.
Aimee highlighted the practicality of porridge for snowboarders enduring long hours on the mountains, emphasizing the necessity for a warm and substantial meal that could sustain them. As Team GB prepares for the upcoming Winter Olympics in the Italian Alps, Aimee and her 85-year-old grandmother will be there to cheer them on, confident in the power of oats to propel the athletes towards success.
