Mark Wright goes head-to-head with the pros in a range of different sports

21 June 2024 , 13:36

958 0

As the summer of sport kicks off, TV personality Mark Wright was put to the test in a series of sporting challenges, including gymnastics, football and even pickleball, to see how he measured up against professional athletes.

First on the list, Olympic Champion Max Whitlock challenged him to perform a routine on a pommel horse. Then, he faced Lionesses Millie Turner and Toni Duggan in a penalty shootout, managing to block only one of their many shots.

He also tried his hand at pickleball - a hybrid sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis - under the guidance of rising star Thaddea Lock.

This comes as research reveals that the average adult will spend 25 hours watching TV this summer, with sports taking centre stage.

Mark Wright, who is collaborating with Babybel, said: "I've always been passionate about sports and they've played a hugely important part in my life."

Bodyguard hired for gymnast Olivia Dunne after being mobbed by ‘rude’ boys

"With such an exciting summer of sport ahead of us, I was buzzing to rise to the challenge set for me, to get out of my comfort zone, and test my skills against some proper pros."

The study found that 37% of people will spend half of their free time indoors between June and August watching sport. A whopping 89% plan to do this from the comfort of their own home, while 31% intend to enjoy the action from inside a pub.

73% believe taking part in community sports positively impacts your mental and physical health a great deal. (PinPep)

Euro 2024 is set to be watched by 76% of viewers, with 69% supporting the Olympics, and 56% tuning into Wimbledon. Despite the buzz, only a fifth of Brits plan to actively participate in sports this summer, with nearly half confessing they never engage in any sporting activities.

A further 23% can't recall the last time they picked up a new sport. However, almost a third would feel confident trying something new that's outside their comfort zone. Pickleball topped the list of sports those surveyed would like to try, followed by padel, squash, and golf.

The research also revealed that those who play a sport regularly engage in two activities, with football, athletics, and badminton being the most popular.

The study, conducted via OnePoll, found that a whopping 73% believe participating in community sports greatly benefits mental and physical health. Moreover, a staggering 82% think such participation positively impacts the wider community.

A spokesperson for Babybel, which is launching a grassroots competition to help people stay active and connect with others, said: "Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be a daunting prospect, but it can have huge benefits on our wellbeing."

"Our research showed that lots of us will spend time enjoying watching sport this summer, but we want to encourage people to join the goodness and get actively involved."

TOP 15 SPORTS PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO TRY.