1. Were you good at sports at school?
No! It was a regular practice for a different girl to choose a team each week, for netball or hockey, and I was always one of the last selected. When it was my turn, I chose all the best athletes which made my friends (equally bad at sports) mad. But for once I wanted to be in the winning team!
To be honest, I wasn't too bad really but I had no motivation, either to take part or to be competitive. So I appeared to be a terrible slacker. And indeed I was. When we were sent off to do a "cross country," which meant running the streets around the school, I would encourage my cohorts to wait until the fast ones were out of sight and then we would hop on the bus.
2. What are your 3 favorite sports to watch on TV?
Athletics, gymnastics, football - if it's an international or one of the teams I support (Spurs or Plymouth Argyle).
3. Do you regularly watch any live sports?
After the 2012 Olympics, which was so thrilling, we had an annual appointment at the Anniversary Games. We haven't been for a while because of a) Covid and b) in recent years Birmingham and Glasgow have been used instead of London for athletics championships. But next year the Diamond League for athletics is back at the London Stadium so I'll be booking it when tickets go on sale this week.
4. Does the Olympic medal ceremony make you emotional when your country wins a gold?
Yes! And also the Commonwealth Games, the Lionnesses winning the Euro football championships.....It's guaranteed if the spokespeople in question are also in tears. And when the flag goes up....!
5. What sport or fitness activities do you enjoy now?
Walking: I walk a lot in nearby Epping Forest and we go to the Lake District each year for some serious hiking. Last year I completed the Walk 1500 Miles challenge. I also love Pilates and weights.
6. Did you ever have a sporting hero who was your pinup?
Jeff Thomson, the Australian fast bowler. I spent the whole of the summer of 1977 watching cricket with my dad on TV, and he had no idea it was because of Jeff! (Who by the way sported a magnificent mullet). I have his autobiography.
7. What's the most memorable sporting occasion you can remember?
The London 2012 Olympics! We went to the opening ceremony of the Paralympics, and the atmosphere was so special, I will never forget it. I could have kicked myself for not getting tickets to the other opening ceremony. I had advance notice when booking opened, but the ticket prices were so high I closed the browser in a huff. I later spent the same amount on the Paralympics and it was so worth it.
I remember vividly "Super Saturday" during the event, when the UK won four gold athletics medals, one after the other. You see, we didn't used to win many medals. In the Atlanta Olympics, the UK only won one gold medal. But John Major's government started investing in sport properly and the National Lottery also contributes.
8. Is anyone in your family outstanding at sport?
John, my husband, has run over 28 marathons and used to be "good for age" when he did them: he had to get a particular time to qualify for Boston. He doesn't do marathons now but has turned his attention to cycling. He likes to do a very grueling cycling holiday each year, like Land's End to John O'Groats.
9. Name 3 sports you try to avoid on TV.
Golf (like paint drying), rugby (ditto), and tennis. I used to like tennis years ago but now the grunting gets on my nerves.
10. Who's the sports personality you most admire, in 2022?
Sarina Wiegman, coach of the England women's soccer team. She succeeded in giving us footballing success for the first time since 1966, when the lads won the World Cup.
I hope you enjoyed my 10 on the 10th. Do check out the answers from others who've answered the questions, including Marsha and Leslie!If you have a 10 on the 10th post, add it to the link-up below.
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