Swimming
Made up of 16 different disciplines, the Olympic swimming events include everything from relay to individual competitions in the four strokes – freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.
Why watch it: Breathtaking to see, the swimmers are both powerful and graceful as they race through the water, and Rio 2016 promises a pool of worldwide superstars set to break records.
Why try it: A brilliant all-round exercise, you don’t need to be training for a medal to feel the benefits of swimming. Easy on the joints, good for flexibility and muscle strengthening are only a handful of the reasons you should grab your goggles. Had a stressful day at work? Swimming offers psychological attributes too, and is said to provide mental tranquility.
THe olympian says: Former Olympic medallist Rebecca Adlington credits the sport with making her the person she is today: “Swimming has given me more than just medals, it’s taught me how to be disciplined, hardworking and a team player. My advice to someone looking to try something new is to take a friend along or try a class – make it sociable and enjoyable, and find the right gear to give you even more confidence.”
Rebecca is the brand ambassador for Slazenger Swim
Heptathlon
THe olympian says: Former Olympic medallist Rebecca Adlington credits the sport with making her the person she is today: “Swimming has given me more than just medals, it’s taught me how to be disciplined, hardworking and a team player. My advice to someone looking to try something new is to take a friend along or try a class – make it sociable and enjoyable, and find the right gear to give you even more confidence.”
Rebecca is the brand ambassador for Slazenger Swim
Heptathlon
A combination of track and field, the heptathlon is made up of seven events; 100m hurdles, high jump, 200m race, long jump, javelin throw, shot put and 800m race and is held over two days.
Why watch it:
The range of events means it never gets boring, plus Team GB have a great track record in the women’s heptathlon, with the likes of Denise Lewis and Jessica Ennis previously bringing home the medals and Katarina Johnson-Thompson tipped for gold in Rio.
Why try it:
The choice of disciplines within field and track events means there is something to suit everyone, so it’s well worth giving a go. Find your nearest athletics track to try throwing, running or jumping for the first time or to become involved competitively with a club. As well as building your strength and muscle, it’s also a mental workout as you compete against your own PB.
The olympian says:
Rio hopeful Katarina Johnson-Thompson explains her love of the sport: “The heptathlon is incredibly challenging both physically and mentally. It’s intense, demanding and one of the toughest athletic events you can do – which is what excites me. Keeping focused throughout the twoday competition is essential and my diet plan plays a crucial part in terms of energy, fuel and recovery.”
Katarina stays fuelled for her races with Science in Sport nutrition
Hockey
You’ll remember this from school – two teams of 11 players use sticks to control, dribble, pass and shoot a ball and the side with the most goals wins. WHY WATCH IT: One of the oldest Olympic sports, hockey boasts great skill, plenty of goals, clever tactics and thrilling penalty shoot-outs.
Why try it:
It may hark back to your playground days, but don’t underestimate hockey as a demanding workout – all that stooping down, swinging a stick and stop-start running soon adds up! There are hockey clubs all over the country looking for members of any age, so whether you’re a beginner or getting back into the sport, bring your team spirit and get involved!
The olympian says:
Georgie Twigg is representing Team GB in the women’s hockey this summer: “I gravitate towards team sports because although I love winning, I love winning with my friends more. Hockey is such a quick game and seems to be speeding up all the time. It tests everything from co-ordination to stamina, from strength to speed and I love it all. For anybody starting out, practise, practise, practise and try not to get frustrated if something doesn’t come straight away, just enjoy it!”
Investec is a proud sponsor of GB Women’s Hockey
Track Cycling
Cyclists compete to achieve the fastest times round an oval-shaped 250m wooden track on lightweight bikes designed to reach maximum speed as quickly as possible.
Why watch it:
Aerodynamic racers in hot pursuit of each other, a slick gravity-defying track and bikes with no brakes all make for adrenaline filled viewing. Great Britain also currently dominate track cycling, winning seven of the available 10 medals in the 2012 games.
Why try it:
Daunting as it seems compared to your usual cycle to work, getting some track practice in (there are a number of velodromes in the UK) is a great way to boost your fitness and perfect your bikehandling skills. Track cycling enhances your awareness of speed, distance and space and teaches you to control and manoeuvre your bike at high velocity. Also, without junctions or traffic lights to slow you down, you can really push yourself to higher speeds and intensities, helping you to become fitter faster.
The olympian says:
2012 Olympic gold medallist and hopeful for Rio, track cyclist Dani King suggests contacting your local cycling club to get into the sport: “There are plenty of women-only rides which is great for building confidence. More women’s cycling clubs are cropping up but I’d definitely recommend getting out with the men too, it’s great fun and they really push you to work harder!”
Dani is a Wiggle High 5 rider, wiggle.co.uk
