# Who are the least-fit Olympians?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [August 19, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268 "2016-08-19T02:04:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/1 "2016-08-19T02:04:28Z")
Say I am physically out-of-shape, but I want to be an Olympian. What should I go for?
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/2 "2016-08-19T02:05:35Z")
I’m guessing the coxswain.
But you gotta be a little guy.
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### Author:  [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/3 "2016-08-19T02:25:02Z")
Probably one of the shooting events.
I think they should transform these into a biathlon, where they run a mile, then shoot, then run a mile, shoot, etc. Then, it may not be best for you.
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/4 "2016-08-19T02:28:09Z")
> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> I’m guessing the coxswain.
> But you gotta be a little guy.
Most coxes are pretty fit, they generally work out with the teams during dryland training. I would guess archers, shooters, and curlers.
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### Author:  [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/5 "2016-08-19T02:30:43Z")
> [@snowthx](#):
>
> I think they should transform these into a biathlon, where they run a mile, then shoot, then run a mile, shoot, etc.
Don’t know if you knew this, but the Modern Pentathlon already works that way.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/6 "2016-08-19T03:00:42Z")
Shooting for sure.
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/7 "2016-08-19T03:41:45Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> Most coxes are pretty fit, they generally work out with the teams during dryland training. I would guess archers, shooters, and curlers.
I guess you didn’t see the Canadian men’s curling team in 2014. They looked like decathletes.
Out of shape curlers don’t cut it anymore in top competition. If you don’t have arm and core strength, you lack control.
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### Author:  [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/8 "2016-08-19T03:43:56Z")
How about equestrian?
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### Author:  [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/9 "2016-08-19T04:07:09Z")
A good way to end this debate once and for all would be to make darts an Olympic sport. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/10 "2016-08-19T04:09:40Z")
> [@slash2k](#):
>
> How about equestrian?
Not easy to control a horse, but I suspect it’s an event where age and guile come into play. Patience, too.
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### Author:  [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/11 "2016-08-19T04:11:46Z")
> [@mhendo](#):
>
> A good way to end this debate once and for all would be to make darts an Olympic sport. 🙂
Darts would be a great Olympic sport - perfect for TV. The crowd has got to be pissed, raucous and in fancy dress though
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/12 "2016-08-19T04:26:13Z")
> [@mhendo](#):
>
> A good way to end this debate once and for all would be to make darts an Olympic sport. 🙂
Ooooh…and that was a bad miss.
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### Author:  [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/13 "2016-08-19T13:54:28Z")
Golf
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/14 "2016-08-19T15:21:43Z")
> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> I’m guessing the coxswain.
> But you gotta be a little guy.
Coxswain here.
This is not the answer.
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### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/15 "2016-08-19T15:23:22Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#):
>
> Darts would be a great Olympic sport - perfect for TV. The crowd has got to be pissed, raucous and in fancy dress though
And there is that guy with the big tattoo on the side of his head…
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/16 "2016-08-19T15:25:34Z")
> [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](#):
>
> Coxswain here.
>
> This is not the answer.
Which? Little guy or fitness?
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/17 "2016-08-19T15:42:15Z")
> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> Which? Little guy or fitness?
I’m sure fitness, as all the coxswains I’ve known are pretty darn fit - they train with the rowers.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/18 "2016-08-19T15:54:57Z")
> [@Telemark](#):
>
> I’m sure fitness, as all the coxswains I’ve known are pretty darn fit - they train with the rowers.
But the OP was asking least fit. I can’t imagine a cox needs to have Olympic rower level fitness.
Though I could be wrong. Won’t be the first time.
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### Author:  [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/19 "2016-08-19T16:11:33Z")
Define fit-
Muscle vs fat
Aerobic capacity/endurance
Flexibility
Strength
Etc.
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### Author:  [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-the-least-fit-olympians/763268/20 "2016-08-19T16:46:34Z")
I’m guessing Dionysus, if you count him. He seems to be mostly slacking off and drinking wine. Otherwise… Aphrodite? She’s more about natural beauty than being a fitness freak.
Apologies if you didn’t mean that kind of Olympian.
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