|
Author
|
Topic: Astronauts and the sports they play(ed)
|
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
|
posted 10-29-2010 09:51 AM
   
I read in the paper today that Yuri Gagarin was a keen rugby player - all the best people are  - and that he insisted that the sport be played at his Academy.
What other astronauts/cosmonauts played sports on a regular basis? |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
|
posted 10-29-2010 10:22 AM
Hadn't read anywhere before that he played rugby although the sport was played in the USSR. I had read he was keen on volleyball and basketball, although his short stature wouldn't have helped (believe me I know... )He was also a good water skier and served on various technical committees for the sport's national governing body. I know some of the other cosmonauts were keen footballers. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1505
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
|
posted 10-29-2010 10:40 AM
There were quite a few handball/racquetball players among NASA astronauts in the 1960s. Scott Carpenter took up Fencing. Of course, we all know about Al Shepard and golf.Pinky Nelson was a professional baseball prospect at one time; Sally Ride was a Junior Tennis Pro. Sonny Carter played professional soccer. Steve Smith played on NCAA Water Polo teams. Leland Melvin actually made it to the NFL, but his pro football career was cut short by an injury. Contrary to some reports, Gordon Cooper never took up professional tiddly-winks.  |
Steve Procter
Member Posts: 1031
From: Leeds, Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Oct 2000
|
posted 10-29-2010 10:45 AM
Of course there is Ed White who was a top class 400m hurdler.At the 1952 Olympic trials in LA White ran his heat in 53.1 secs, failing to make the final (he was the fastest of the non-qualifiers). He would have needed to run at least 51.6 secs in the final to get a place on the US team. |
thump
Member Posts: 575
From: washington dc usa
Registered: May 2004
|
posted 10-29-2010 11:10 AM
Scott Parazynski was a bobsledder, and even coached a country's (forget which one) Olympic bobsled team. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 10-29-2010 11:19 AM
quote:
Originally posted by thump:
Scott Parazynski was a bobsledder...
Close... he competed on the United States Development Luge Team and served as an Olympic Team Coach for the Philippines during the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, Canada.
|
advertisement