What If Pests Competed In The 2024 Olympics?

Summary: The 2024 Summer Olympics are at the forefront of conversation, and that leads to the imagination of a fictional world where pests could compete in their own Olympics. This blog gives a basic explanation of 8 Summer Olympic events, then describes why that event’s designated pest would excel at its sport in this fictional experience. The 8 Olympic sports included are Trampoline, Diving, Archery, Beach Volleyball, Fencing, Handball, Table Tennis, and Surfing. Finally, Green Pest Services is known for providing thorough, effective treatments for a range of pest issues.

This is the final week of the 2024 Summer Olympics, and this event has been a true showing of athleticism and teamwork. All of the captivating events turned people’s eyes to Paris to cheer on their country’s representatives. It’s been fun to learn about the various sports involved in this massive event, but it does lead us to wonder: what if common pests could compete in their own Olympics? Let’s explore this fictional world where pests show off their skills in their designated athletic events and learn why they would succeed at these sports.

Trampoline — Fleas

The trampoline event is always fun; nothing beats watching athletes perform incredible flips! When we think of jumping pests, the first that comes to mind is the flea. This pest jumps at a height about 100 times their own. This is a jump height of 6 to 12 inches that allows them to hop onto a new host. Their amazing jumping ability is achieved by pushing their thoracic muscles against the resilin (protein) in their thorax, which creates a spring effect. We have a good feeling that fleas would be great on the trampoline. They would do all kinds of flips and elaborate tricks that score them major points, then stick the landing for a gold-medal score.

Diving — Roaches

Olympic diving is one of the most impressive feats in the Games, in our humble opinion. The divers not only have to perform stunts, they also have to seamlessly enter the water without bellyflopping in any way. One pest that might be great at this is the roach. Real roaches hold their breath in water for up to 40 minutes by closing the spiracles on their sides. They float more than swim, but roaches can still hide in the water for a short time until it’s safe to leave. If roaches were in the Olympics, they would probably compete in the platform diving event because they have no fear. The roach would complete a near-perfect dive and be one of the biggest underdogs that’s celebrated throughout the Games.

Archery — Hornets

Archery is all about having a steady hand and a trained eye as you set your sights on the target. There are quite a few pests that might be good at this, but we think the hornet might be one of the best. Hornets, like most stinging pests, have a hot temper when it comes to their nests. They are even angrier towards the end of summer because their food sources (other insects) are scarce, so the hornets are more desperate to find food and help their colonies. Hornets would be great at archery because they only attack people who are a perceived threat to the colony, so they already have a trained eye. If they could shoot an arrow, we bet it would be a bullseye every time.

Beach Volleyball — Ants

Beach volleyball is a fun, casual game among friends, especially when a game breaks out at camp or a beach trip. But in the Olympics, this is one of the most intense events. Ants would be a top choice for the beach volleyball event for a few reasons. For one, they love sand because it’s easy to dig in and move around when they’re constructing their nests. Another reason is that ants are strong pests that lift items about 20 times their own weight. With a lot of practice, this natural strength would lead to some brutal serves and spikes on the court. The third reason is that ants clearly work together in real life to gather food and protect their nests, so their teamwork would be undeniable as they lead their country to victory in this event.

Fencing — Spiders

The athletes that compete in fencing wear metal mesh helmets and protective gear, so make no mistake: fencing is a fierce sport. Precision is key when trying to strike your opponent, hence why spiders would be amazing at Olympic fencing. These pests are incredibly stealthy when tracking their prey. Whether they’re hiding in their web or hunting around their habitat, spiders go in for the kill as soon as they know they have the upper hand. Plus, have you ever seen a spider crawl towards you and raise their front legs in defense (a true nightmare)? This is exactly what would make them great fencers. Spiders would use their great reflexes and steady appendages to strike their opponent and earn that gold medal.

Handball — Mice

Handball isn’t the most well-known Olympic sport, but its popularity doesn’t speak to how intense of an event it is. Basically, the objective is to throw the ball into the other team’s goal the most times. It requires a special set of skill and teamwork, both of which we think mice would have. Mice are social creatures that do better in small groups than alone, as they choose to have safety in numbers. A group of mice that knows they’re safe will do everything for each other, from sharing food to cleaning one another to caring for the young. If they competed in the handball event, mice would dominate by working together to score goal after goal. Their agility and quick reflexes would overpower the other team’s skill, and the mice would take home the gold.

Table Tennis — Termites

This is another event that’s a good time among friends — typically played in someone’s garage — but is incredibly intense in the Olympics. Table tennis is all about repetition, speed, and strategy. It’s almost like termites were made for this event! These pests never stop working to sleep or eat because they devour the wood their strong mandibles chew through, which gives them a lot of energy. Termites are dedicated to protecting their colony and gnawing the wood into tunnels. They would be unbelievable at table tennis after training for years. Termites would relish in the rallies during a table tennis match, keeping their trained eyes on the ball until they drive their way to victory.

Surfing — Earwigs

This one might sound like a random choice, but hear us out. Surfing requires a respect for the water and the ability to work within it time after time. Riding the waves is an art, and this is a skill that we think the earwig would excel at because of its love for the water. These pests need water to survive and seek out any place that has consistent moisture. They’re often found in bathrooms and basements for this reason. Earwigs are independent pests that are hardly ever found with other pests (unless the earwigs are eating them), so the self-motivation required for surfing wouldn’t be a problem. The earwig would make the most of each wave, completing all kinds of incredible 360s and tube rides that earn them the gold.

Green Is Going For The Gold In Pest Control

Just as each Olympic athlete takes their sport seriously, the licensed technicians of Green Pest Services take pride in providing reliable pest control. We solve pest problems through a multi-faceted approach, meaning we don’t just spray some pesticides and call it a day. Our team begins each service with a careful inspection of the property in search of any pest activity. We use these findings to create a treatment plan that’s curated to fit your pest control needs. Our experienced team uses a variety of pest treatments to target all current pests and prevent future ones from invading. Contact us today to schedule your initial service with the all-stars of pest control!

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Citations

Blackman, S. (2022, December 21). How do fleas jump?. Discover Wildlife. Available at https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/insects-invertebrates/how-do-fleas-jump (Accessed on July 31, 2024).

Can cockroaches swim or survive in water?. (n.d.). Terminix. Retrieved July 31, 2024, from https://www.terminix.com/cockroaches/can-cockroaches-swim/

Keeping mice together. (n.d.). RSPCA. Retrieved July 31, 2024, from https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/mice/company

Paris 2024 Olympic sports. (n.d.). Olympics. Retrieved July 31, 2024, from https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/sports