What do you think would be your best chance at earning an Olympic medal if you were to start training for something now?

For myself, I'm guessing 10m air rifle.

No elite athletic capability required, minimal cost outlay, I could practice every day in the hallway at home, no crazy hours for training that would require me to to quit work, and I used to be a pretty good shot when I was younger.

What would you choose if you had to try?

I think you would find its a lot harder than people estimate. The super-still hold when standing upright, and the technical gear setup, is insane.

I wonder fencing - it seemed it was all about reaction time. They seem to twitch and its a win. I never saw the sword move! Then again, probably a sh!tload to it.

Seems males can enter all the female sports now so should be easy?

Surfing,.. then I can justify taking time off work to the wife to "go train".

Can I make up a sport to suit me ?

Calling it a sport is a bit of a stretch though.
Pastime seems more appropriate.

Buster fin said..
Calling it a sport is a bit of a stretch though.
Pastime seems more appropriate.

I think it makes more sense than those that are judged subjectively.
Things with artistic expression should not be in Olympics like the formation drowning event

Buster fin said..
Calling it a sport is a bit of a stretch though.
Pastime seems more appropriate.

I'd think darts might have more skill. And how about snooker?

Harrow said.. The pistol must fit in a box 42cm x 20cm x 5cm.

Poor girl.

Mark _australia said.. fencing

I used to be pretty good at fencing - straight as a laser beam, and the finished job were pretty much horse proof - but I really dislike digging postholes

I used to fence & had just taken it up & gone from beginner to the advanced class & the class champion at the time reckoned he was going to the Sydney Olympics he paid heaps to get coaching almost everyday & within a month I was beating him & he was the worst loser ever & I thought that his tantrum we're absolutely hilarious and I convinced my dad to come join us as he had been the under 15 Australian champion & they wanted him to go to keep training & eventually go to the Olympics when the time came but he quit & startled working .
And he did at 65 & hadn't done it for 50 years and straight off the bat beat this bloke who had sort of been bullying the class it was absolutely hilarious
We would go there & fence with the class & let people score on us to encourage them & sort of help them learn especially dad but our deal was cause this bloke was such a prick never let him ever get a point which is what he would do to everyone especially beginners & I was class champion for 2 years but I never deluded myself I was good enough for the Olympics.
Its massively more physical than you imagine because it's all in the legs jumping back & forward & as a side note was very popular with the ladies as it keeps your ass nice & trim but it's all about reaction time and being fast I think it just must be in our genes some people have it & others don't .
I think it's like that for everyone at that level and that's why they make it look so easy I'm not saying training & dedication have nothing to do with it that's polishing a natural skill that makes them get into the Olympics.
So go through your family and find what seems to be an inherited skill & work on that.

Mr Milk said..

actiomax said..

So go through your family and find what seems to be an inherited skill & work on that.

Drinking?

Those sort of boat races got banned didn't they?

sailing. pretty easy. only reasonable fitness required. mainly knowledge based - i.e. you could learn as opposed to having to have a talent or genetic predisposition

Windsurfing or kiteboarding (from next Olympics) would be the obvious answer.

In reality unless you are already heavily involved with an Olympic sport you have bugger all chance of winning a medal
90% of Olympians don't win a medal, so maybe set your sites to just become an Olympian.
Find a sport you where you can get to a standard to meet the Olympic qualifying standard, identify some long lost lineage from a country which has a particularly weak team or who are open to bribes.
Change nationality to said new country, pay said bribe, book in for your Olympic tattoo, simples
Perhaps clay target shooting, not as difficult as air rifles or archery because you have pattern of pellets and you only have to break the clay in two to have succeeded.
See you all in Brisbane

Mark _australia said..
^^^ Hahaha oh my the clay target guys are fuming now

Never mind, all they have to do is stand still & rotate 60 degrees while pulling the trigger