BACK IN 1965
Gatorade's origins date back to 1965 on the campus of the University of Florida. The coach of the college's American Football team- the Florida Gators - approached his friends in the Science faculty with a problem. His players were so affected by the Florida heat that they were unable to perform at their best.
Gator-Ade was invented for the Florida Gators.
THE DISCOVERY
The scientists discovered that the electrolytes and fluids, which the players were losing in their sweat, were not being replaced adequately. Furthermore the carbohydrates that the players were burning were not being replenished either.
SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT
The findings were taken to the lab, where a scientifically formulated carbohydrate-electrolyte drink was developed. It was designed precisely to replace the key components lost by the players during training and competition. They called it Gator-ade and introduced it to the team. Two years later the Gators won the much coveted Orange Bowl for the first time in their history.
STATE TO STATE
The word spread and before long, colleges all across the United States were using Gatorade to enhance the performance of their sports teams.
FROM 1969 & THE NFL
In 1969 Gatorade became the official drink of the American National Football League (NFL), a title it still holds to this day.
Sixteen years later, the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) was founded in Barrington, Illinois, with the aim of sharing knowledge on sports nutrition and exercise science that enhances the performance and well-being of athletes.
TODAY
Gatorade is the sports drink chosen by more professional athletes than any other brand. It's the drink chosen by the NBA, NFL, the Brazilian national football team as well as the teams of Aviva Premiership Rugby and British Cycling here in the UK.
Today Gatorade is the brand used by more professional athletes than any other.
The GSSI continues to research and develop new products to fuel the performance of professional and amateur athletes worldwide.
Click here to Learn more about the science behind Gatorade
