# Help me win a medal. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 17, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-win-a-medal/763119 "2016-08-17T19:42:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-win-a-medal/763119/1 "2016-08-17T19:42:38Z")
Let’s say I have average athletic prowess but I’ve never trained in any of the Olympic disciplines. Now let’s say I’m desperate to win an Olympic medal as soon as possible. Which event, with dedicated training, could I expect to become medal-worthy in the shortest time? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-win-a-medal/763119/2 "2016-08-17T19:51:52Z")
Probably equestrian, the horse is the athlete. Average athletic prowess won’t cut it, a world class athlete in any sport is a genetic freak. ETA: Remotely possible-4 man bobsled though you need to contribute to the starting push. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-win-a-medal/763119/3 "2016-08-17T20:05:28Z")
This actually came up as an issue when they were trying to get Tae Kwon Do into the Olympics. A British soccer team that knew they couldn’t make the grade as soccer players trained TKD for six months and did very, very well at the Seoul games when it was a demo sport. The IOC was not thrilled that somebody could train for six months and then make it into the Olympics… ---
**Author:** ![Victor\_Charlie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7ea924/32.png) [@Victor\_Charlie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victor_Charlie)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-win-a-medal/763119/4 "2016-08-17T20:06:59Z")
Well, my first thought was that the shooting/archery events probably don’t require a huge genetic advantage, just a lot of practice. But I don’t know enough about that to be sure. If necessary, we can adjust the question to “which event requires the least athletic ability and can be learned the fastest?” ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-win-a-medal/763119/5 "2016-08-17T20:51:47Z")
Other than being the coxswain in rowing, but you have to be somewhat small for that, the two Olympic sports I can think of off the top of my head that don’t really need too much “athletic prowess” are curling and sailing. As for equestrian, I’m pretty sure it will take years to develop the necessary horse-rider relationship with a horse to be a legitimate medal contender. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-win-a-medal/763119/6 "2016-08-18T01:16:19Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > the two Olympic sports I can think of off the top of my head that don’t really need too much “athletic prowess” are curling and sailing. Maybe not “athletic”, but those sports require lots of strategy. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-win-a-medal/763119/7 "2016-08-18T01:34:34Z")
My first thought is curling - but that would only to get on an Olympics team if you could finagle your way onto the Ecuadorian curling team or something. But the top contenders at the sport would eat you alive on your way to a medal. My second thought would be to buy your way onto a championship yachting team. I also know piss-all about yachting, and maybe every single person is absolutely essential at their job, and adding someone who’s worthless would be a noticeable hindrance. Anyone know what the overall effect of subbing in a wooden man onto a yacht would be? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-win-a-medal/763119/8 "2016-08-18T01:38:07Z")
Coxswain. Curling isn’t easy, I’ve tried it. Neither is shooting, although it looks like something one can do. Sure, and one can run 100 yards too. Coxswain. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-win-a-medal/763119/9 "2016-08-18T01:48:00Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > My second thought would be to buy your way onto a championship yachting team. I also know piss-all about yachting, and maybe every single person is absolutely essential at their job, and adding someone who’s worthless would be a noticeable hindrance. Anyone know what the overall effect of subbing in a wooden man onto a yacht would be? Huh. What happens if America’s basketball dream team is (a) NBA professionals who rack up wins, and (b) you, riding the bench? Do you get a medal? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-win-a-medal/763119/10 "2016-08-18T01:49:10Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Huh. What happens if America’s basketball dream team is (a) NBA professionals who rack up wins, and (b) you, riding the bench? Do you get a medal? Christian Laettner got a Gold Medal in Barcelona, 1992. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-win-a-medal/763119/11 "2016-08-18T01:51:24Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Huh. What happens if America’s basketball dream team is (a) NBA professionals who rack up wins, and (b) you, riding the bench? Do you get a medal? Yes, it’s a team sport. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-win-a-medal/763119/12 "2016-08-18T01:53:16Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Christian Laettner got a Gold Medal in Barcelona, 1992. But he got out there on the court, right? Grabbing rebounds, stealing the ball, all that stuff? I mean, yeah, if Team USA runs up a big enough lead, I guess they could put you in near the end of the game – but what I’m asking is, what if you’re just an alternate who never actually gets rotated in? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-win-a-medal/763119/13 "2016-08-18T02:29:23Z")
Yes, you get a medal. As **running coach** said, it’s a team sport. All players officially on the team, regardless of playing time, get the same medal.