Four in ten men think they could train their way to 2028 Olympics

[Patriciastaser]

This is a headline from The Times today. Fascinating reading (sorry, its behind a paywall)! Some seriously deluded chaps out there...

Ahhh, the arrogance of the mediocre man 🙄

I reckon if you gave me enough money to buy a really posh horse and I could practice all the time - I could get to the Olympics for dressage.

Either that, or 40% of men like to wind up people asking them stupid questions.

I mean Raygun made it to the Olympics, most of us were thinking we could breakdance better than her! There are some very niche sports out there.

The Times quoted "a recent study found men are almost twice as likely to “hit the wall” during a marathon, which researchers suspected was down to their overconfidence."

🫣 yes I can believe it! My husband will certainly be one 😂

😄 that gender eh

I think if they say they can do it, they should then be made to do it.
Should be fun.

I don't paddleboard but I'm sure if I tried I'd immediately be Olympic standard. It's standing up and moving your arms. How hard can it be?

I'm a woman and only half joking.

The other 60% think they could be the next England manager@😂

That doesn't surprise me one bit. I used to know a guy who claimed he knew he could run the London marathon without even trying because he went jogging for half an hour twice a week?!

Same guy who claimed he could knock out Chris Eubank because he boxed in a church hall as a schoolboy.

I was surprised it was as low as 40%. My DH and my 75 year old DF read the article this evening and both of them immediately started working out what sport they thought they could do.

It's a version of the men vs lion bullshit. They just believe because of the patriarchy that they are far more powerful and important than they are. Bless them.

I have known a couple of Olympians in less known sports and they still train all the time.

I have (recently) sadly had to accept that I probably won't now win an Olympic medal, which I always vaguely thought I might. I hadn't actually chosen my specific sport.

I'm 60 and a size 22.

They might be able to if they suddenly claimed to be women.

Phew, I was getting worried there. This thread had been up for a whole hour and no-one had got around to having a pop at trans people. Good work, @Ifailed !

DH would probably admit to being too old to be in with a serious shot now (41) but I remember during London 2012 he was reminiscing about his days as a moderately successful schoolboy sprinter and deciding that maybe he could have made it if he had stuck with it. I thought this was rather optimistic.

I gave up my dreams of being an Olympic swimmer aged about 8 when I realised how early I'd have to get up.

Come on ladies! Be honest, if we didn’t have any commitments at all, I reckon we could qualify. I’ll go first- shooting. Not the one where the target moves- the stationary one 🤣

When I was a child, I wanted to be the next Nadia Comăneci!!

Jane Austen knew all about this phenomenon, but put this in the mouth of a woman:

If you are speaking of music...it is of all subjects my delight. There are few people in England I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient. And so would Anne, if her health would have allowed her to apply. I am confident that she would have performed delightfully.

Oscar Swahn was 64 and no sylph when he won Olympic gold for shooting.

Don't throw in the towel yet Hatty!

Almost every man I have ever dated was nearly a professional football player when young but ended up getting an injury.

What an amazing coincidence hey!

The equestrian events have an older than average contingent

DH would only be Olympic standard in armchair disciplines.

Same size but 10 years older 😏
Let's just imagine we're elite athletes, merely 'resting' to give the young 'uns a chance.

OOH I could now grow a beard to rival Oscar's, so there's that