Feb. 10 (Bloomberg) -- There exists among Olympic athletes a desire even more powerful and enduring than the hunger for a gold medal.

Listen to Greg Harney, who served as the delegation director for the U.S. Olympic Committee during the 1988, 1992 and 1994 Games. Harney stayed with the athletes in their heavily protected living quarters, known as the village, witnessing more than his fair share of amorous encounters.

``When you eat, sleep and work with somebody around the clock, there come some bonding opportunities,'' he says, letting loose a chuckle. ``I do remember a lot of different romances over the years.''

Ever polite, Harney didn't name names. He did, however, recall that a number of gentlemen callers were smitten with U.S. figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi during the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France.

``They were all trying to flirt with Kristi,'' Harney recalled.

Bret Hedican, a member of the American hockey team at the time, met Yamaguchi at the opening ceremony that year. They were married in 2000. Hedican earlier this week was named as an injury replacement to the U.S. team that will compete in the Turin, Italy, Olympics, which begin tonight.

``When you have a chance to meet these other athletes, call it what you want -- flirting -- people are meeting each other,'' says Hedican, who plays for the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes.

Swifter, Higher, Stronger

With all the commingling going on, perhaps the Olympic motto of swifter, higher, stronger should be amended to reflect the abundance of amour.

The organizing committees are aware of the fraternization, which is why condoms are readily available in the village.

There's more at work here than just hormones. Athletes train for years to fulfill their Olympic dream. And when it's over, no matter the outcome, there's a tremendous sense of elation.

``We train hard and then we party hard,'' says swimmer Summer Sanders, who won two gold medals, a silver and a bronze at the 1992 Olympics. ``You have to understand it's the extreme of every emotion. The incredible sense of relief and release is pretty much what occurs.''

What's the Rating?

For the record, Sanders, then 19 years old, said she didn't partake in any fooling around. Her catharsis came in the form of Barcelona's trendy clubs, some of which she sampled until sunrise.

``I was about going out and dancing until 8 a.m., not sucking face,'' says Sanders, whose husband is U.S. Olympic skier Erik Schlopy. ``My first thought wasn't hooking up.''

By contrast, Brendan Hansen's Olympic experience sounds like a bacchanal.

Hansen, 24, won gold, silver and bronze medals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Then it was party time.

The swimming events usually are held early in the Summer Games, affording Hansen and his teammates the chance to, as he put it, keep up international relations. Pressed for specifics, Hansen asked: ``What's the column going to be rated?''

``It's like spring break. It gets pretty crazy, I'm not going to lie,'' Hansen says. ``When you're half-naked and shaved, the girls tend to flock to you.''

By the time some athletes are done competing, some are more than ready for a good time.

Holding Back

American speedskater Chad Hedrick told the Wall Street Journal that he planned to avoid sex for at least two weeks prior to the Olympics in order to save his strength. Victor Plata, a member of the U.S. triathlon team, says he went 233 days without sex before the Athens Olympics.

With all that pent-up energy, the U.S. Olympic Committee wants to make sure that its athletes conduct themselves with the proper decorum. To ensure that they do, the USOC prior to the Olympics stages a one-hour presentation outlining what's expected of athletes representing their country. A portion is devoted to, let's call it personal etiquette.

``We didn't get too specific on the topic'' Harney says, ``but they got the message.''

The way Hansen tells it, the well-known athletes, especially those with medals dangling from their necks, get VIP treatment. It's all limousines and private parties.

``You're the star of the show,'' Hansen says.

If there's an anti-Hansen it's 52-year-old Anne Abernathy, who will be competing in her record sixth Olympics. Known as ``Grandma Luge'' Abernathy, who represents the U.S. Virgin Islands, says that she's oblivious to signs of romance.

``I'm sure there's stuff going on, but I haven't seen it,'' Abernathy said. ``Maybe it's just because I'm Grandma Luge and over the hill. Call me back on Valentine's Day.''

To contact the writer of this column: Scott Soshnick in New York at ssoshnick@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: February 10, 2006 00:05 EST