Olympic Dreams: The Sports The ELLE Team Wants To Compete In

Ever since the Rio Olympic Games started earlier this month, we've been glued to our television screens, watching our favourite athletes dominate in their sporting fields.

However, the joy of watching the likes of Dina Asher-Smith, Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles is also tinged with regret – regret at the lost chance to become an Olympic athlete and bring home the gold. 

Parents, we blame you.

But, is it ever to late to become a world champion?

We rounded up the ELLE team to find out which sport they'd choose if they could compete in the 2020 Tokyo Games:

Debbie Black, Managing Editor

'I wish they'd consider squash as an Olympic sport because I'd love to do that. How can tennis be included and not squash? Otherwise high jump!'

Fern Ross, Associate Editor

'Gymnastics, obviously. I practice handstands almost every day. I still can't hold one for longer than 3 seconds but I'm working on it.'

Bibby Sowray,  Digital News and Features Editor 

'Trampolining – because until Rio 2016 I had no idea it was even an Olympic sport.'

Elizabeth Cooney, Senior Designer

'Waterpolo. I was actually in the Olympic youth training team on my way to London 2012 but I want to go to art school instead.'

Sophie Beresiner, Beauty Director

'I used to be really good at gymnastics – somehow. I did the beam and the parallel bars. When I say 'did', I mean every Saturday at kids club with my gymnast peers, but I was lanky so I did quite well. I could also do a forward somersault on the trampoline. Can you compete in that?'

Katie O'Malley, Digital Writer

'I'm going to be really greedy and say the Heptathlon because I'd want to compete everything. Since watching the Rio Olympics I've also become slightly obsessed with cycling. Laura Trott and I are both 24-years-old (the night she won her fourth gold I was at home eating chocolate on sofa) so I'm quite jealous of how much she's already achieved. Besides, I've always wanted to slide down the curvy bit of a velodrome.'

Lena De Casparis, Culture and Special Projects Director

'Ping-Pong. I'm not a natural athlete, in fact my exceptionally short legs make most athletics challenging. However I have a killer serve and mean backhand so think, with a small amount of training, could take the gold at Table Tennis. Plus, anything Susan Sarandon like can't be uncool, can it?'

Lorraine Candy, Editor In Chief

'Marathon swimming. I didn't know it was even in the Olympics until I read the start podium had been swept across the coast by high winds in Rio! And now I have read about it marathon swimming sounds amazing – a real battle of mind over nature, tackling the tide and the unpredictability of the event makes me think it would gruelling but fun. Plus I have just learnt to swim properly so obviously think I am an expert now.'

Lara Ferros, Picture Editor

'I think flat track racing or motocross should be in the Olympics.'

Hannah Nathanson, Commisioning Editor

'Table tennis – Forrest Gump style. So that all those years playing against 'the wall' – one side of the table folded upwards – wouldn't be wasted!'

Tokyo watch out – the ELLE team is coming for you.

Katie O'Malley

Site Director

Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.