Devices record diet, sleep and exercise patterns The US track cycling team are using glucose monitors, sleep trackers and genetic reports Data will be used to improve products for the amateur health and fitness market

By Emma Reynolds

PUBLISHED: 07:14 EST, 23 July 2012 | UPDATED: 03:34 EST, 24 July 2012

Olympic athletes are providing fitness data in exchange for high-tech gadgets that record sleep, diet and exercise patterns to help improve their performance.

Health technology companies are using the athletes results to develop tracking devices for the burgeoning fitness and weightloss markets.

The track cycling team from the US are testing a sleep monitor, a glucose monitor - which can help diabetics manage blood sugar - and genetic reports on their nutritional needs and muscular capacity.

Setting records: Athletes taking part in the Games are sharing information on their sleep, diet and exercise patterns to help improve fitness gadgets

The companies are hoping the Games will increase the exposure for their products, many of which have only been recently developed.

Sky Christopherson is a consultant to the team and founder of the Optimized Athlete - which analyses patterns in health data to improve athletes' results.

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London 2012: Olympic athletes swap personal fitness data for latest gadgets in bid for 2012 edge