There’s a field hockey player who would love to play tennis — more specifically, doubles with Coco Gauff. A sailor who could see herself hurtling down an icy mountain on a pair of skis. A water polo centre who appreciates the purity of running, where nothing matters more than the numbers that flash up on the trackside clock.
Turns out Olympians and Paralympians are just like us: They watch the Summer Games or Winter Games on TV and think about which sports they would love to try.
The difference, of course, is the folks heading to Paris, when they will compete against the best in the world at what they do, already have a sport — and already are quite good at it. That doesn’t mean they didn’t harbour dreams of success elsewhere as a kid and maybe even started out in another sport.
Several athletes were asked what other Olympic sport they once thought about taking up. Or, in some cases, still do.
Hannah Roberts, BMX — football: “I forget what year it was, but the US women’s team won gold. My parents just kind of put the TV on. It was raining outside at home, and they didn’t want me going and playing in the dirt. So they put the TV on, and it was playing, and I watched them win gold. I was really into football in the day, and I was like, I want to be a goalie.’ I took some footballs in the face a few years later, and I was like, I don’t know if this is the life for me.’ So I’m pretty stoked that I’m still at the Olympic level and just thankfully not getting hit in the face with a football.”
Kelsey Bing, field hockey — tennis: “I’m a huge tennis fan. However, I don’t think I’d be the best individual athlete, so I’d probably have to play doubles, because I love having a team. Coco Gauff, she’s amazing. Hopefully she’d want to be my partner — but I don’t think I’d be up to her level, at all.”
Mary Tucker, shooting — equestrian: “I’ve been riding horses for pretty much my whole life, before I started shooting. I got to the point where I had to give that up to focus on shooting. While it was the right decision, sometimes I do miss riding.”
Ben Hallock, water polo — track and field: “It’s pure from the start to the finish line. There’s a beginning point, an end point, and it’s pure. I just love the purity of: Whoever runs faster, runs faster.”
Daniella Moroz, sailing — Alpine skiing: “I would want to be a downhill Alpine ski racer. I love going fast. (Snow is) just a different form of water.” AP/PTI
