Winter Olympics: Three sports that will get you into shape

Introduction
Of all the Olympic sports, the one that fascinates me the most is the weightlifting competition, particularly the feats accomplished by this Greek lifter known as Pyrros Dimas. When you are attempting a weight of 207.5 kilograms, one can only imagine (and draw inspiration from) the amount of effort that has been put in by the lifter to stay on top for years together.

When it comes to the Winter Olympics though, as Jerry Seinfeld aptly put it, one might wonder how Luge became a Olympic sport, where all you have to do is exert your calves to head off in the right direction (albeit at blinding speeds) as opposed to summer counterpart.

However, there are Winter Olympic sports that do require endurance and skill (and most definitely, a head for heights) in order to remain on top of the Olympic sporting world. Here are three Winter Olympic sport that are a test of spirit and strength:

1. Ice Hockey
For one thing, Ice Hockey is a physical and a fast-paced game apart from being a guy’s game. In addition, the words ‘physical’ does not merely mean just stamina and the ability to outwit the competition but to able to take a real beating, as it is a full contact sport. Most obviously, if you are looking to get into shape, this one can be the most effective amongst the Winter Olympic disciplines.

2. Nordic Combined
The Nordic Combined is a combination of two sports, cross-country skiing and ski jumping and no, this is not the Biathlon, which includes rifle marksmanship (bizarre or what?) with cross-country skiing. The cross-country skiing event tests one’s skill to the maximum where athletes have to cover fifteen kilometers with skis and poles.

As it is obvious from the sheer distance and the cold, one knows that it is not just about making cool skiing videos in slow mo, but building endurance and speed in a sport that truly requires you to go the distance. As for ski jumping, it’s obvious that in order to fly as far as one can go, one has to stay in shape (aerodynamically, perhaps?) apart from adopting the right technique that will help you cover maximum distance in the jump.

3. Long/Short track speed skating
This is a discipline in which aerodynamics and fitness plays a large role much like the Nordic Combined discipline, in which competitors race each other on skates around a 111 m or 400 m oval track.

Conclusion
These winter sports require qualities of sacrifice, endurance, strength and an indomitable will to go the distance that can either take you places or bring you down for good.

However, this is not a write-up that is an attempt at sports journalism but one that desires to convey the message that it is only those who were chosen to compete in any discipline at the Olympics did so by achieving near-perfect levels of fitness. Strangely, if one plays these sports regularly (as opposed to just ‘watching’ them) just for kicks it can turn out to be a fun way to get into shape.

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