I'm baffled that people aren't saying handball.

I'd be the smallest guy on the floor most likely. Looks like most are 6' or better.

I'm baffled that people aren't saying handball.

 

I considered it but I don't think I've ever played it, so have no idea how tough it is.

Now - absolutely none.

 

In my prime - absolutely none.

Now - absolutely none.

 

In my prime - absolutely none.

 

In your prime I am picturing you riding around nude on your chariot going to Roman yard sales on Saturdays. You could probably hang in that event today, a little past your prime.

I used to consider myself pretty good in racquet ball. Till I played a person who was trying to qualify for an Olympic exhibition team. Totally humbled.

 

I love racquet ball. Finding people to play with is difficult though.

I'm an awful swimmer, so no chance in that. I'm decently quick for my size but won't be able to compete in a spring and I don't run distances. I have no ability to do any gymnastics.

 

I've played some beach volleyball against guys that were playing on a professional tour, and I'm nowhere near good enough there.

 

I'd say my best sport of any Olympic sport listed would be basketball. I'm confident I'd be able to get a few good fouls in but would be 100% overmatched at any position on the floor.

 

Ruling out all track & field events, all swimming events & all gymnastic events, I'm left with archery and rugby. Out of those two, I'd pick Rugby (and I have no experience playing Rugby...)

 

I'm confident that if I was the average guy on an Olympic basketball team I'd be the first injured, fouled out and carted off the court within just a few minutes time. Definitely playing with a mouth guard for the elbows I'd catch from people going by me.

I'm baffled that people aren't saying handball.

 

If handball is so easy, why can't the USA even qualify a team for the Olympics?? Based on your thought, it should be no problem finding a dozen guys in a country this large with so many athletes that can hang internationally. The only time we've qualified recently was in 1996 as the host team and we got slaughtered.

 

The game is very fast, played by extremely tall, athletic guys...nobody is under 6'2", and many are 6'6" or taller. And You need to be able to throw a 2 lb, small soccer ball 60mph, while on the run or in the air.

 

You need the arm of a baseball player, footwork of a soccer player, and the height of a basketball player.

In your prime I am picturing you riding around nude on your chariot going to Roman yard sales on Saturdays. You could probably hang in that event today, a little past your prime.

 

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

Seriously, I was one of those reasonably athletic guys who was never great in anything. My best shot would have been the shortest freestyle swimming race.

50m free for sure. Right now I'm about 8 seconds off the gold with little swimming yardage.

 

Would be awesome to have the coaches and trainers for six months.

 

I'd probably still end up about 5 - 6 seconds off. Would be a lot of fun though.

As a point of reference for a well above average swimmer, this would be the equivalent of racing in the 1600M run (4 laps around a track) and still having a lap to complete. Just goes to show how freakish these folks are.

It is funny to think about this though. Was talking with a friend at work about it.

 

In high school, I was pretty good at the 400. I ran in the 54 second range.

 

I would have lost to van Niekerk by about 90 meters. Almost a quarter of the track.

If handball is so easy, why can't the USA even qualify a team for the Olympics?? Based on your thought, it should be no problem finding a dozen guys in a country this large with so many athletes that can hang internationally. The only time we've qualified recently was in 1996 as the host team and we got slaughtered.

 

The game is very fast, played by extremely tall, athletic guys...nobody is under 6'2", and many are 6'6" or taller. And You need to be able to throw a 2 lb, small soccer ball 60mph, while on the run or in the air.

 

You need the arm of a baseball player, footwork of a soccer player, and the height of a basketball player.

We are talking about not embarrassing yourself. I'm 6'2 and with some time to train I think I could hang for a little while on the court. The US doesn't care about handball or we would be the best in the world. Our best athletes play real sports. Watching I noticed only 3-4 player typically end up with the ball on the outside looking for shots.

The more I think about it the more I believe no one on here would have a remote chance of not being embarrassed in pretty much any event that required physical ability. Meaning swimming, running, rugby, water polo, handball, rowing, ect. Even with 6 months of training it just isn't happening.

 

The only chance anyone would have would be at the events that require mostly a skill like archery or shooting. I would think the horse events could be done as well if you already have riding experience and already comfortable on a horse. Maybe the golf for the a one or two on here, and that means finishing last but respectable in relation to the field. The guy that finished last shot 226 over the 3 rounds. That's a little over 75 avg.

If handball is so easy, why can't the USA even qualify a team for the Olympics?? Based on your thought, it should be no problem finding a dozen guys in a country this large with so many athletes that can hang internationally. The only time we've qualified recently was in 1996 as the host team and we got slaughtered.

 

The game is very fast, played by extremely tall, athletic guys...nobody is under 6'2", and many are 6'6" or taller. And You need to be able to throw a 2 lb, small soccer ball 60mph, while on the run or in the air.

 

You need the arm of a baseball player, footwork of a soccer player, and the height of a basketball player.

I looked the roster for 3 teams in the quarterfinals. The average size for each is:

France - 6' 3.6"

Germany - 6' 4.9"

Brazil - 6' 2.6"

 

Germany has no one under 6' 2" but France and Brazil have several. As a matter of fact they both have 2 players each under 6'. The German team is huge. They have 6 guys 6'6" or bigger, one at 6' 10.7"

The more I think about it the more I believe no one on here would have a remote chance of not being embarrassed in pretty much any event that required physical ability. Meaning swimming, running, rugby, water polo, handball, rowing, ect. Even with 6 months of training it just isn't happening.

 

The only chance anyone would have would be at the events that require mostly a skill like archery or shooting. I would think the horse events could be done as well if you already have riding experience and already comfortable on a horse. Maybe the golf for the a one or two on here, and that means finishing last but respectable in relation to the field. The guy that finished last shot 226 over the 3 rounds. That's a little over 75 avg.

 

Exactly.

 

It's not knocking anyone on here's athletic ability, it's a matter of just how elite these athletes are. Outside of maybe 1 or 2 people on here, we'd all completely embarrass ourselves.

We are talking about not embarrassing yourself. I'm 6'2 and with some time to train I think I could hang for a little while on the court. The US doesn't care about handball or we would be the best in the world. Our best athletes play real sports. Watching I noticed only 3-4 player typically end up with the ball on the outside looking for shots.

 

I get that we don't care about handball and that our best athletes aren't doing it. But I'm sure the guys who are playing handball internationally in the US are pretty good athletes and weren't slouches at other sports. I just don't think 6 months is enough time to become good enough to not be embarrassed when playing the very best in the world in a sport you know nothing about. My guess is handball is a lot tougher than it looks.