At high school? I was a fat kid, so was condemned to the outer darkness as far as sport was concerned. Was forced to participate in basketball, hockey and swimming. Successfully avoided tennis, squash and softball/baseball, cricket and anything even remotely resembling gymnastics. As I have no depth perception above the horizon, anything that required me to catch or hit a ball overhead was doomed to failure. Also very small and badly engineered feet, so running sports were off the table too. Hockey was OK - I was the goalie (most of the time) as no one else wanted to do that bit. Had quite a lot of fun whacking people’s shins with my stick (named Excalibur). Revenge is sweet. Did OK out of school at ice skating. As my Dad was ex-navy, all of my siblings and me learned to sail small boats and race them in the school holidays. Which was OK, but not really my bag long term. Also got thrown out of ballet classes due to complete lack of talent. But I do love to dance - just not ballet.
The real irony came in my mid thirties, when due to unrelated circumstances, I did a reflex speed test. And tested out at the top 3% of the population. If only they’d offered jet fighter pilot training as a sport at my high school … I could have been a real star at that.
As things turned out, I ended up as a professional equestrian for over 20 years. The reflexes came in real handy for that. And on the back of a horse I didn’t need to use my feet much so that was good too.
Back in the day, sport was IMPORTANT, cos Character Building. Which actually ended up being true just not the way my school planned it. I suck at team sports, but do OK at individual ones. Or did, as am now pretty much superannuated out of sport participation. I still ride when I can, as horseriding is my happy place. And ride my bike but that’s transport not sport as such.
You haven’t met a good one yet. And they have the world’s biggest shoulders to cry on when everything goes dark. I wish I still had the physical mojo to own one. Nowadays I’m forced to ride other people’s horses which is just not the same but still fun.
At high school? I was a fat kid, so was condemned to the outer darkness as far as sport was concerned. Was forced to participate in basketball, hockey and swimming. Successfully avoided tennis, squash and softball/baseball, cricket and anything even remotely resembling gymnastics. As I have no depth perception above the horizon, anything that required me to catch or hit a ball overhead was doomed to failure. Also very small and badly engineered feet, so running sports were off the table too. Hockey was OK - I was the goalie (most of the time) as no one else wanted to do that bit. Had quite a lot of fun whacking people’s shins with my stick (named Excalibur). Revenge is sweet. Did OK out of school at ice skating. As my Dad was ex-navy, all of my siblings and me learned to sail small boats and race them in the school holidays. Which was OK, but not really my bag long term. Also got thrown out of ballet classes due to complete lack of talent. But I do love to dance - just not ballet.
The real irony came in my mid thirties, when due to unrelated circumstances, I did a reflex speed test. And tested out at the top 3% of the population. If only they’d offered jet fighter pilot training as a sport at my high school … I could have been a real star at that.
As things turned out, I ended up as a professional equestrian for over 20 years. The reflexes came in real handy for that. And on the back of a horse I didn’t need to use my feet much so that was good too.
Wow. That’s some impressive sports résumé.
Back in the day, sport was IMPORTANT, cos Character Building. Which actually ended up being true just not the way my school planned it. I suck at team sports, but do OK at individual ones. Or did, as am now pretty much superannuated out of sport participation. I still ride when I can, as horseriding is my happy place. And ride my bike but that’s transport not sport as such.
Nothing like a good revenge hockey stick to the shin. You may keep your horses though shudder
You haven’t met a good one yet. And they have the world’s biggest shoulders to cry on when everything goes dark. I wish I still had the physical mojo to own one. Nowadays I’m forced to ride other people’s horses which is just not the same but still fun.
Nope. Actual phobia. A picture won’t do it but if I’m close enough to smell them Bye!