As anticipation builds for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, swimming medalists Tyler Clary and Jessica Hardy trust the post-exercise recovery benefits of chocolate milk to help keep them at the top of their game. A national marketing campaign by the Milk Processor Education Program showcases these athletes, giving an up-close look at how their preparations for the world stage are Built with Chocolate Milk™. The campaign debuted March 27 in television, print and digital advertising.

The USA swimmers' training regimen includes being in the water 10 or more times a week, plus weight lifting and exercises out of the water. More than 20 studies support the benefits of recovering with the high-quality protein and nutrients in low-fat chocolate milk after a tough workout.

"For years, chocolate milk has been my first choice for recovery. It tastes great after my grueling workouts, and it has a carbohydrate to protein ratio to help the body recover and basically rebuild after a really hard session," said Clary.

"I've been drinking chocolate milk after every practice and race for as long as I can remember. It's the thing I look forward to most," Hardy said. "I believe that the protein and nutrients in chocolate milk have helped boost my recovery and contributed to my success as an athlete, plus it's a 'real food' and it's delicious."

"We're proud to partner with two of the nation's brightest medal hopefuls and share why chocolate milk is the recovery beverage of the world's best athletes," said Miranda Abney, marketing director at MilkPEP. "We look forward to supporting Tyler and Jessica throughout the year while giving others an inspirational look at how they're preparing to take on the world."

Chocolate Milk: Built With Science

More than 20 scientific studies with athletes from sports including swimming, running, cycling and soccer support the benefits of recovering after strenuous exercise with the high-quality protein and nutrients found in low-fat chocolate milk. In fact, drinking chocolate milk after a tough workout could give athletes a performance edge.

Indiana University researchers found that when collegiate, trained swimmers recovered with reduced-fat chocolate milk after an exhaustive swim, they swam faster in time trials later that same day. On average, they shaved off 2.1 seconds per 200 yard swim and 0.5 seconds per 75 yard sprint, compared to when they recovered with a traditional carbohydrate sports drink or calorie-free beverage.

To watch exclusive behind-the-scenes videos from USA Swimming athletes, visit BuiltWithChocolateMilk.com. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and on Instagram.

For more information, contact Abney at mabney@milkpep.org.