to take up a competitive sport at age 45?

[ChamomileLawn]

clearly I’m a little bit old to be good at gymnastics or hurdles, I don’t want to spend hours trundling up and down a pool.
i’ve never got the hang of team games like football or hockey. I skived PE from age 13 onwards. I have dabbled in a little slow running previously until knackered tendons put paid to that.

I am now 45, quite fat and very unfit but I do feel I need an actual go at a commonwealth/Olympic medal.

so what sport can I take up? Archery? Bowls?

My oh and I started playing petangue recently which is a form of boules. Great fun and although not like a workout, I can feel that I have played as there is lots of bending and walking backwards and forward.

Powerlifting. OK you wouldn't be able to compete in the actual olympics or commonwealth games but you could compete in your age and weight class in international competitions. A lot of people take it up in their thirties and forties and discover hitherto untapped talent!

Cycling is no stress on joints and gives you fresh air and mental health boost. Plus basically free.

Netball if you can face a team sport, there are lots of back to netball groups near me

Curling.

Shot. If you’ve got a decent throwing arm reckon you’ve got a good chance of a medal on that one.

I think realistically it is too late. Even non physical sports like shooting, competitors will have some much experience over you.

Take up for fitness and enjoyment, sure. But I don't think you can be commonwealth standard starting at 45.

How does one go about power lifting? I need to find a gym or something don’t I?

Darts (if your eyesight is still good).

@ChamomileLawn if you live in a decent sized town or city, there will be a local club, try googling barbell clubs or powerlifting clubs. They will have their own facilities so you don't need to join a gym. They are usually welcoming and inclusive places, give it a go four a couple of sessions and see what you think.

Powerlifting competitions have categories for people competing at all different weights and ages. As a 45 year old you'd be in the M1 (Masters 1) category, which already sounds impressive!

One of my family members took up fencing 2 years ago and is competing this year in the commonwealth fencing competition

Shooting - if your eyesight is good enough.

Table Tennis - if you can balance with your hands off the table.

Masters categories in everything these days OP! Why not train for a half marathon or something like that? That's a sport in itself (long distance running) and also gives you a good goal to do something that lots of non athletes as well as athletes would be doing too, so no pressure on the day to place, but lots of respect from cheering crowds for the fact you are doing it!

Forgot to add if you love it there's lots of success stories about people starting later in life, loving it and then competing and shooting the lights out. The great thing is these days there's no limit age wise, there are competitions for everyone!

Have you not heard of Walking Sports OP.

Means you carry on playing longer.

There's loads of it around now. Walking Football, tennis, netball and its catching on.

Definitely lifting.

Met lots of inspirational masters plus guards you against sarcopenia.

Different types tho, weight lifting, power lifting, strong man stuff. Some of these lead to things like Games, others have their own comps.

I did a half marathon about 6 years ago. Before the joints and ligaments broke. I was not good.

I want to be good at something and win a medal.

Find a Crossfit gym - they'll teach you how to lift.

I like you, OP 😀

Fencing could be exciting.
walking sport is interesting but that team element is missing. I fear I’m not a team person.
just watched the para triathlon. Bloody amazing people.

Wow, that's amazing - what's their story??

I took up a competetive sport at 42.

GOLF. You are perfect demographic.

Triathlon, btw, sprint ones. You've a few years to get good, then you'll tip over into being youngest in the age 50+ category: good chance of medals, then.

Realistically bowls as they seem to carry on when older. Most bowls clubs have beginners session. My Dad took it up at 65 after he retired. Turned out he was good at soon competed against other local clubs. More importantly it helped him keep fit, as another poster mentioned a lot of bending up and down and walking, and gave him another interest as before the bowls it was just sketching. He made a new set of friends to socialise with too.

Taekwondo or fencing