First, there are those sports I can easily rule out: hammer throw, weight lifting, shot put, and any other sport where my daughters are expected to lift more or throw something farther than an average man. I will also add womens wrestling to this list. Call me old fashion, but unless there is mud involved, I do not want to watch women wrestle, and I don't want my daughters wrestling, mud or no mud.
Second, there are those sports dominated by Asians. Apparently badminton and taekwondo must be Asia's NFL because they go nuts over the sports, and even the athletes representing USA are from Asia. So unless the Navy makes me a foreign area officer in China, taekwondo, judo, badminton, and table tennis can be marked of the list.
Next, there are those sports where the best athletes usually come from wealthy backgrounds because it is cost prohibitive for the average person to play or even practice enough to become extraordinary. Sailing, fencing, equestrian events, and the modern day pentathlon are good examples. I grew up both sailing and riding, and even competed on a limited level in each sport, but to become a world class athlete in these sports require a level of financial dedication most families cannot afford.
This leaves those all-American sports: basketball, track & field, softball, gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, water polo, field hockey, soccer, and swimming. I will immediately rule out track & field and basketball. There is the chance M or BK can become distance runners or extraordinary point guards but beyond that genetics is not on Madison's or Kate's side. Next, as much as Shelly might hope for her girls to play softball, it looks like the sport will be exiting after this year Olympics.
Being a gymnast is most little girls' dream, and it will probably be Kate's and Madison's dream at some point. My problem with gymnastics is that it is notorious for having bitchy girls with psycho parents. Beyond the stereotype, I do have a real concern about the affects on the girl's body. They start at such a young age and put their bodies through so much wear and tear that it stunts their growth. Besides, Madison just had a nasty fall at the play ground, which might be an omen to look at other sports.
Tennis is a possibility, and Madison has already shown an interest for it. Of course this sport is similar to golf in that those who tend to excel started taking private lessons at a very young age. Personally, I am hoping M and BK take up sports that allow me to retire with some sort of savings instead of putting me into debt. Also, there is a level of "God Given" talent needed to really excel in tennis.
Volleyball is another sport, and there are two types of volleyball in the Olympics: team volleyball and beach volleyball. Team volleyball will probably, but not necessarily, be determined by how tall the girls end up being. The other big determinant is if they go to a high school with a strong volleyball program. Volleyball takes athletic ability, but most collegiate players are tall and have been well coached. As for beach volleyball . . . I am not sure I want my girls to be Olympic beach volleyball players. They are by far the sketchiest athletes. Besides, they all grew up on the beaches of Southern California, and though I would be willing to live in San Diego again, I am not sure I want my daughters skipping school to play beach volleyball with a bunch of pot smoking, surf bums, banking on making the professional beach volleyball circuit.
Field hockey and water polo are two sports I know little about, except what I have seen in the Olympics. I am not opposed to my daughters taking up either sport, for they require a mix of athletic prowess, hard work, lots of practice, and some dependence on God gifted talent. Like volleyball, coaching probably has a significant role on players reaching the collegiate level. This said, they are two sports not played in most U.S. middle schools and high schools, so we will first have to see if they even have the opportunity for Madison or Kate to play one of these sports.
Then there is soccer. This sport is like field hockey or water polo in that it requires a mix of athletic prowess, hard work, practice, and God gifted talent to excel in. The difference from the other two sports is that it is played in most high schools and colleges across the country (of course, this makes the pool to be an Olympian that much more competitive). M and BK's biggest hurdle, if they want to play soccer growing up, is convincing their mother to let them play. Personally, I would never let my son play the game, for I have a problem with any men's sport where the women are tougher than the guys, but with the excessive traveling, psycho parents, year round dedication, I understand Shelly's determination for none of our children to play the sport.
Then there is swimming. I have determined this might be the sport for my girls. Unlike most other sports, does not rely heavily on athletic ability or God gifted talent. What I mean is that one does not have to be overly athletic or have exceptional eye hand coordination to be a great swimmer. Instead, swimmers rely on years of hard work and determination to become great. If you count physique as God gifted talent, then this can be important (all over the news is how Michael Phelps' body is made for swimming), but I believe most of the swimmers, especially the women, have no more gifted athleticism than the average athlete. There is also the factor of mental toughness, which is so important to swimming. It is this mental toughness which allows truly great swimmers to push on when their bodies want to quit. What sets swimmers apart from each other are the hours and hours of extra practice and mental toughness. As for Madison and Kate, M already really enjoys swimming, and it looks like she will have the physique of a swimmer (broad shoulders, bigger-boned, muscular). my only concern is that the women swimmers in the Olympics look like they could double up for the offensive line of a college football team.
Then there are those sports -canoing, kayaking, sculling, triathlons, and cycling- where I am not sure how you become an Olympic athlete, but all the power to those who do. Beyond dedication, these are sports where pure athleticism and mental toughness are key; and though I am sure M and BK will be good athletes, I am not sure they have the genetic make up to be great enough for these sports. But who really knows? (I will also say these are the sports that tend to be dominated by those from old soviet block countries.)
Finally there are those sports (archery, shooting, synchronized swimming, trampoline, and rthymic gymnastics) that are the exact opposite of the sports previously mentioned. Instead of athletic prowess or God gifted ability, these sports seem to rely more on practice, skill, and technique. These are also sports the U.S. usually does poorly in. Therefore, if M or BK were to dedicate themselves to one of these sports from an early age, this would probably be their best chance of making it to the Olympics. Of course, who really wants to be an Olympic athlete in archery? Can you imagine hanging out in the Olympic Village with other athletes and having to tell Michael Phelps you are hanging out with him because you are really good at shooting a bow and arrow .
In conclusion, when it comes to being in the 2028 Olympics, I think Madison and BK should pursue swimming, but archery or the pentathlon (because it is such an obscure and diverse sport) might be their best chances. Unfortunately, they will probably fall in love with soccer.
I am obviously writing this in jest, for it is impossible to raise your kids to be Olympians, no matter your personal background, the sport they chose, or how hard you push them. All I can ask for, is that Madison and Kate try lots of sports and play them for life. If they make it to the Olympics, I would be ecstatic. If they college scholarships, I would be very pleased.
On a separate note, as I write this, Michael Phelps just won his eighth gold medal. I don't think I have witnessed a more spectacular athletic feat.
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