Barack Obama: Why the former president has become more cautious on the basketball court
Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Former U.S. President Barack Obama, 64, has become more cautious about playing basketball due to fear of injury.
- He expressed concern about risking his knees and Achilles tendons, preferring straight-line movements over lateral ones.
- Obama plans to focus on stretching and flexibility, a suggestion his wife, Michelle Obama, is still considering.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama, 64, is known for his love of basketball, often playing with friends and visitors. However, he has recently adopted a more cautious approach to his favorite sport, primarily driven by a fear of getting injured.
I don't run back and forth on the court anymore because I want to protect my knees and my Achilles tendon. I don't want to end up in a boot.
In a joint interview with his wife, Michelle Obama, for "People" magazine, Obama denied any plans to play full games in the new "Home Court" gymnasium at his Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. While he might participate in shooting contests, actual games appear too risky for him.
Do you really want to? Stretching and flexibility?
"I don't run back and forth on the court anymore because I want to protect my knees and my Achilles tendon," Obama explained. "I don't want to end up in a boot." He elaborated that he feels fine with straight-line running but worries about potential issues when making lateral movements. He noted that his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama, is far ahead of him in terms of stretching and flexibility, which he identified as his next focus.
That's exactly what I plan to do.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Der Spiegel in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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