Clinical Nutrition Alumni, Rachael Mack, Brings Olympic Routine and Consistency to UC Davis

PARIS – Since taking the role of Director of Performance Nutrition within UC Davis Athletics, Rachael Mack has been committed to providing expert input while building meaningful and trusting connections with UC Davis student athletes.

Mack's ability to excel and be an asset for the Aggies comes partly from her time spent as a former lacrosse student athlete and Aggie alumni. It also comes from her time with USA Men's Water Polo, and just this past summer Mack spent her second summer Olympics with the team helping them take home a bronze medal.

Mack reflects on her experience, all the way up to that medal-winning moment. "There was so much joy, it transcends words - we did it.

"Every single choice, decision, and sacrifice made by the team and staff has finally culminated in success at the highest level."

Her first time at the Olympics came in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Taking place amidst a global pandemic, the teams played in near-empty stadiums, creating an eerie atmosphere for the games. She recalls the silence of the stadium, only cut by the blow of the whistle or the buzz of a shot clock, compared to how having the stands packed with 15,000 cheering spectators in Paris this year only made the entire experience more meaningful.

Mack gained knowledge from her time at Tokyo that she carried into Paris, and her time at the two Olympic games has translated to increased knowledge of nutrition among Aggie student athletes.

"When you're a college athlete and you're busy, and when time is pulled in many different directions, it feels like the things you are or are not choosing don't matter as much," said Mack. "My time at the games has shown me that an extra push of nutrition is one of the only controllable factors, and will always make you feel good when everything else is against you. And I look to pass that lesson on to the student athletes here at UC Davis."

The two games being so different allowed for Mack to gain different levels of experience, something that put her in a position to help Team USA to bronze.

Although, the biggest contrast Mack found between the Tokyo and Paris games in her position was access to the grocery store, which she claims was a "benefit and a challenge." In quarantine, every meal she had available for the team was pre-planned, whereas this year she would have to pivot at an instant if a store did not have something she needed. 

Because of her previous experiences, she knew to always have a kit of essentials to be able to whip up something for the athletes in a pinch, which usually included a cutting board, knife, and some snacks. "I took the metro with my cooler, and coolers do not travel well on cobblestone" she joked.  

"My job is to prioritize their recovery, and that would be how I approached getting ready for a game day."

Game days began with a trip to the grocery store, where Mack would grab a few quick carbohydrate options such as smoothies, sandwiches, and gummies to make available for the athletes. 

While in competition, water and snacks were ready at all times. And after games, similar options such as smoothies and sandwiches - quick carbohydrates - were gospel for the American men. 

After the medal winning match that extended into a grueling shootout, the athletes told her that they expected to feel fatigued and thought they would have nothing left in the tank after the game but were pleasantly surprised by the opposite. In fact, the team felt like they had more in the tank, a testament to the nutrition plan put together by Mack.

Beyond physical benefit, Mack also tailored the menu around factors of cultural expression and preferential taste. "I dialed in around what each guy likes individually and what I have option wise," Mack explains. Finding benefit in access to the grocery stores, compared to Tokyo, she was able to recreate local Parisian delicacies such as crêpes and explore other French snacks. 

And of course, Mack always made sure to have plenty of the team's favorite on deck - peanut butter.

"Because I've worked with the men before, they knew going in that I was there to elevate performance and provide consistent, open communication. They knew the intention behind everything I did," said Mack. 

Mack's presence on deck during games was crucial for proper enrichment, setting a trusting routine and alleviating the stress of food and fueling that oftentimes burdens athletes. Even after the hunk of bronze was weighing on their necks, the team was still expected to refuel right after the post-game interviews simply to maintain routine.

"The little things are how we got here, and they still matter. We can't give them up just because we got there" Mack explains. "Little things add up," she said, "oftentimes the differences matter the most; this team won by two goals in a shootout. So, with every performance at the Olympics being a matter of seconds or milliseconds, it's a hair's length that separates you and the winner."

Buying into the routine and making the correct, consistent choice every single time in the name of physical wellbeing will ultimately elevate performance especially when it's hard to, and that was part of the lesson Mack has driven home both with USA Men's Water Polo and UC Davis Athletics.

"How do we make sure that we have every card in our favor? We do the little things every day, even when we don't want to and it's hard."

In Paris, with experience collected at the previous Olympics, Mack established and fostered meaningful connections with her athletes. This allowed them to believe in and follow a consistent routine on their way to peak performance.

Already proven to be a significant bridge builder between athletes and the difficult topic of food, Mack has taken her time at the Olympics and translated that into a reliable resource for UC Davis student athletes.

This story is an example of UC Davis Athletics' commitment to the Ignite Strategic Plan Pillar of "Assess and Value Personal" by developing diverse personnel that contribute to a positive experience and meaningful impact. Read more about our strategic plan here; IGNITE