Guys, guess what: you, bloated drunken you reading this right now can be an Olympian! Even though you’re probably out of shape and definitely old, at least by Olympics standards. Luckily, not all sports require you practicing every day from the age of four; some you can pick up later in life and still become the best in the world.
Here are some of those sports, and some of the late-bloomers who made it happen.
1. Archery
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Yup, you could be Katniss Everdeen as long as you get off the couch once in a while. Most archery medalists are young—it requires way more strength than you’d expect—but actress Geena Davis nearly qualified for the 2000 Sydney Olympics despite only taking up archery about two years prior, at the age of 44.
2. Rowing
Photo Credit: Pixabay
American Meghan O’Leary, who competed in Rio as a rower a few years ago, is one of a few Olympian rowers who started as an adult. In fact, the 34-year-old didn’t start rowing until 2010, at which point she was working a normal adult job at ESPN.
3. Cross-country skiing
Photo Credit: Pexels
Apparently, they’ll let pretty much anyone do this as long as you pay your way into citizenship of a country that doesn’t have a ton of skiers. That’s how Gary di Silvestri and Angelica Morrone, “a middle-aged couple…bought their way into Olympic competition.” It’s unethical, but hey, you’re an Olympian now—and at any age!
4. Skeleton
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Canadian Jon Montgomery won the gold medal in Skeleton at the 2010 Olympics after starting the sport in 2002, when he was already 23. After he won, Montgomery marched through the streets chugging beer and singing the national anthem, so naturally he now hosts The Amazing Race Canada. That’s right: you can start a sport in your 20s and become a national hero as a result.
This article was originally published by our friends at Someecards.
