Page 62

What happens when two Olympic athletes swap sports? A number of world-class athletes, from sports as diverse as football, gymnastics, shooting, boxing, archery, curling, BMX and equestrian, have been stepping out of their comfort zones to try and fi nd out.In each episode of the Olympic Channel’s original series “Sports Swap”, an Olympic athlete is given just one day to learn a new sport from a fellow Olympian, and then challenged to perform their new skills. The fi rst episode features Team USA footballer and three-time Olympic gold medallist Heather O’Reilly and Olympic rhythmic gymnastics champion Margarita Mamun of Russia trying each other’s sport for the fi rst time.“I have never used a ribbon in that way. It was completely new, completely foreign to me,” said O’Reilly. “I’m such a competitor and perfectionist, and in something like this you have to let all of that go and just have fun, try to learn and do the best that you can.” Even the best athletes can be nervous about trying new things, but those who took part demonstrated a readiness to mix up their daily routines, sending a positive message that having an active lifestyle is within reach, no matter what your interests or skill level.In addition to learning new athletic skills, the Olympians also picked up a few training and lifestyle tips that could be incorporated into their schedules. “I’d love to go boxing again,” said Amber Hill, the Olympic shooter who swapped sports with Team GB team-mate Joe Joyce. “I’ve just got such a buzz off it, and maybe I’ll build it into my exercise regimen as well.”With plans for additional episodes featuring unique combinations of sports and athletes already in the works – and promising to throw up more fascinating results – “Sports Swap” is one of a number of Olympic Channel original series to be showing athletes in a new light, allowing their fans to connect with them in a completely different way. ■“Sports Swap” and other Olympic Channel original series are available worldwide via mobile apps for Android and iOS devices and at olympicchannel.comWORLD-CLASS ATHLETES FROM A WIDE RANGE OF OLYMPIC SPORTS HAVE BEEN TRADING PLACES ON THE OLYMPIC CHANNEL’S ORIGINAL SERIES “SPORTS SWAP”, WITH SURPRISING RESULTS AboveFootballer Heather O’Reilly (left) and rhythmic gymnast Margarita Mamun (right) swapped sports for one dayOLYMPIC CHANNEL INSPIRES ATHLETES TO TRY NEW SPORTSEpisode 1Football vs Gymnastics with Heather O’Reilly (USA) and Margarita Mamun (RUS)Episode 2 Table Tennis vs Hockey with Britt Eerland (NED) and Blair Tarrant (NZL)Episode 3 Boxing vs Shooting with Joe Joyce (GBR) and Amber Hill (GBR)Episode 4Archery vs Curling with Lisa Unruh (GER) and Niklas Edin (SWE)Episode 5BMX vs Equestrian with Elke Vanhoof (BEL) and Daniel Bluman (ISR)Episode 6Athletics vs Track Cycling with Naomi Sedney (NED) and Elis Ligtlee (NED)SPORTS SWAP62 OLYMPIC REVIEW OLYMPIC CHANNEL