So far, my favorite part of the Olympics has been wondering how I can get my abs to look more like Michael Phelps or Ryan Lochte—or at least the female version, and without the “hip-hop tropical frat boy” outfits. I’ve only spent about an hour actually watching the games. After unsuccessfully trying to go to a local Carroll Gardens sports bar full of flaming tiki drinks and muted television, I resorted to streaming NBC and googling swimmers routines. As suspected, the only answer is hard work. “If there’s no pain, there’s no gain,” NPR aptly sums up.
The Daily Beast agrees. “Sure, the Olympics brings together the best athletes in the world and their skills may be unparalleled, but they are also ripped.” In the ongoing performance of this years Olympics, the Daily Beast notices the men look an awful lot like another phenomenon of this summer. It just so happens to be Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike, starring Channing Tatum, who in fact has always had great abs (She’s the Man, anyone? Mr. Tates stars as the ripped love interest of Amanda Bines—of All That fame—in this soccer-themed Shakespearean riff)
For your amusement, The Daily Beast put together this little ab-centric quiz: Magic Mike or Olympics? Exotic male dancers and Olympic swimmers have a lot in common, as it turns out.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be visiting Pinterest in search of smoothie recipes for the next month, as Phelps’ 12,000 calorie/day diet likely won’t cut it.
