• Question: What do you think is the most complex sport?

    Asked by dani.paa to Andrew, Dan, Emilia, Helen, Katy, LauraAnne, Stephanie on 11 Nov 2016.
    • Photo: Dan Gordon

      Dan Gordon answered on 11 Nov 2016:

      Tricky question. I would say something like synchronised swimming it complex, given that the athletes have to learn and then execute a series of gymnastic moves in time to muscle, while under water holding their breath and in time with their fellow team mates.

    • Photo: LauraAnne Furlong

      LauraAnne Furlong answered on 11 Nov 2016:

      That’s a tough one! There are lots of sports which are complex, but for different reasons. Gymnastics for example, requires an athlete to have not just a lot of strength and flexibility, but also a lot of coordination to be able to catch and release the high bars for example and even to have enough momentum to swing around the bar. Dan’s example of synchronised swimming is great, because you’re doing several difficult things at once. However, preparing to do an Iron-Man triathlon is very difficult – someone needs to train to do not just a 26.2 mile marathon but also a 112 mile cycle and a 2.4 mile swim in open water. This problem of having to train for several different events (which are quite different) applies to any multi event, like modern pentathlon or the heptathlon which Jessica Ennis-Hill competed in.

    • Photo: Katy Griggs

      Katy Griggs answered on 13 Nov 2016:

      hmmm that is a difficult one. I think gymnastics as it involves many complex movements joined together in one sequence. Plus it involves gymnasts to be skilled in many different disciplines, such as high bars, beam etc.

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