EVERYONE loves the Olympics when you can watch it on telly with a glass of wine and a pizza. But do you remember the trauma of actually doing sport at school? Here are the low points.
Cross-country running
Just a gruelling yomp across fields in bad weather, with none of the fun of football, netball or table tennis. It would have done wonders for your overall fitness, if it hadn’t put you off running and jogging for life.
Sports that almost maimed someone
Surprisingly, the girly-sounding sport of hockey was ideal for this. Fancy losing some teeth or an eye due to someone taking a high backswing and hitting you in the face? Hockey’s your game. Also good for accidentally slamming the ball at head-height and painful shin injuries. It’s no wonder girls who went to public school are so tough.
Survival swimming
Bronze, Silver and Gold Survival medals were beloved of any school in the 80s. To replicate the feeling of actually drowning you had to swim in pyjamas. However many a rubber brick was saved from a watery grave.
Playing exclusively in goal
Nothing says ‘loser’ like being picked last and spending an hour in goal, shuddering on a chilly football pitch while all the other players were having fun further up the field. Then you got roundly slagged off for letting a goal in while getting no childhood exercise whatsoever.
Boxing
Relatively rare in state schools, but traumatic. Why not smash your own friends’ faces in? It’s worth noting that boxing was the preferred sport of the Kray Twins.
Track and field
Some of the most boring sports in existence. Apart from the ancient Greeks, has anyone ever given a toss about throwing a discus? It’s just a heavy frisbee. The triple-jump seems to serve no purpose whatsoever. Javelin throwing was more interesting, but you weren’t a Roman soldier and you couldn’t aim it at the school bully who’d hassle you for being a member of Computer Club.
