Toe-tally Talented: Brits Reveal Unique Secret Talents They Would Turn Into Olympic Sports
29 Jul 2024, 4 p.m.
Brits fancy their chances as gold medal procrastinators and ironing champions, exclusive Opinium poll conducted on behalf of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity reveals.
Forget the 100m dash, the British public has a new set of Olympic events in mind. From napping to knitting, a new survey has revealed the secret talents Brits would turn into Olympic sports if they had the chance.
Many believe the Olympics should swap tracks for snacks, with one Brit keen to showcase how many Cheesy Wotsits they can devour in 60 seconds and 11 others going for gold in competitive eating.
Some would want to snooze their way to the top of the Olympic podium, with 18 people saying they would lead Team GB to victory if they could compete in sleeping, napping or snoring contests.
From the unenergetic to the unconventional, picking up items by foot and playing the recorder by nose featured on the list, while one Brit fancied their chances in the pressure washing Olympics.
For 18 people in the survey, conducted by Opinium on behalf of GOSH Charity, gaming would be their path to glory, while four people thought they had potential as world-record procrastinators.
Others believe household tasks would be their chance to shine, with competitive cleaning, cooking, ironing and gardening on the list – while one person said their talent was growing Venus flytraps.
A quarter of the 2,000 people surveyed between June 25 and 27 said they had a secret talent they would turn into an Olympic sport, with some of the other unique answers including:
- Getting annoyed with neighbours
- Getting the kids dressed in the morning
- Fast reading and touch typing
- Juggling
- Finger wrestling
- Naming every Olympics venue since 1896
- Taylor Swift fandom
- Crocheting and knitting
- Backwards running
While winning an Olympic gold for napping or knitting may be just a pipe dream, GOSH Charity is calling on members of the public to bring home a medal of their own by taking part in one of its fundraising challenge events to help transform the lives of seriously ill children.
Whether it's running a half marathon or taking on a triathlon, fundraisers can put their athletic skills to the test while helping GOSH Charity make sure no childhood is lost to serious illness.
Money raised through events such as the London to Brighton Cycle, the Thames Path Trek and RBC Race for the Kids helps GOSH Charity fund groundbreaking research, cutting-edge medical equipment and vital support services for families going through the toughest time of their lives.
Gabi Field, deputy director of public fundraising at GOSH Charity, said: "This new research shines a light on the unique and wonderful secret talents of people across the UK and - whether it's by bike, foot or even by parachute - our challenge events give supporters the opportunity to harness their athletic skills while raising money to help seriously ill children.
“By fundraising for GOSH Charity, you can help us fund vital services and ground-breaking research to make sure every child gets the chance to have the best childhood possible.”
Notes to editors
For the survey, Opinium Research polled 2,000 UK adults online between 25 and 27 June. The results have been weighted to be nationally representative.
About Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity)
Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity) stops at nothing to help give seriously ill children childhoods that are fuller, funner and longer. For the hundreds of children from all over the UK who are treated by Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) every day, for children with rare or complex illnesses everywhere, for this generation and all those to come.
GOSH has been transforming the lives of seriously ill children since opening its doors in 1852 and has always depended on charitable support. GOSH Charity funds groundbreaking research into children’s health, cutting-edge medical equipment, child-centred medical facilities and the support services children and families going through the toughest journey of their lives urgently need. But there is so much more we need to do.
Together with our supporters, we can give seriously ill children the best chance, and the best childhoods, possible. Because we believe no childhood should be lost to serious illness.
For more information, please contact:
Katy Clifton, GOSH Charity external communications officer