4. Discussion
We evaluated EI and EA at four distinct time points during the athletic season in wheelchair athletes. Most athletes competed in summer sports. As data collection took place from spring until fall, this represents pre-competition and competition seasons for most of the athletes. Neither EA nor EI displayed significant differences across the various time points. Interestingly, all of the athletes experienced LEA for at least one day, indicating how tough fueling is for elite athletes. Furthermore, daily macronutrient intake and timing were frequently suboptimal, with athletes not adjusting EI to accommodate higher training loads. The results are somewhat surprising considering that these are all professional athletes receiving professional support, and it therefore might be assumed that they have the nutritional knowledge and support to tailor their nutrition to their needs. However, our findings align with the reality of professional sport and demonstrate significant potential for improvement in sports nutrition support and implementation.