Olympic Trials

By Naperville Magazine
Appears in the October 2024 issue.

By Jeff Banowetz

Inspired by the Paris Games? Try a new sport

American Kristen Faulkner’s surprise gold medal in road cycling was one of the best stories from this summer’s Paris Olympics. She wasn’t even planning on competing in the race (a last-minute spot was offered to her), but she wound up at the top of the podium after an unforgettable sprint to the finish. Surprisingly, however, Faulkner didn’t even start cycling until 2017, when, on a whim, she took an introduction to women’s cycling course and fell in love with it.

If an Olympic sport caught your eye (or captured your kid’s imagination) this summer, why not give it a shot? While you may not win a medal, you’ll get some exercise, meet new people, and maybe even discover a fresh passion. Here are some local facilities where you can visit to test out your Olympic inspirations.

Badminton

Most Americans know badminton as a backyard game played at barbecues. But if you watched the Olympians play, you saw that the game at its highest level involves lightning-fast reflexes and speeds that can be hard to believe. Badminton holds the record for the racket sport with the fastest projectile, as the pros can hit shuttlecocks (also known as birdies) more than 200 mph.

While pickleball and tennis have been drawing more people to racket sports in recent years, serious badminton remains under the radar. And that’s a shame, as the lighter racket, smaller court, and faster learning curve make it accessible to a wide range of people. But while the sport may not get much national attention, Naperville is home to two of only six USA Badminton member clubs in the Midwest, and local park districts and many high schools have badminton teams.

The Chicago Egret Badminton Club has a Naperville location (181 High Grove Ln.) that offers training programs and private lessons for all levels. The club is home to both state and national championship players but also has classes for beginners and intermediates. The Midwest Badminton Club (2019 Corporate Ln.) also offers beginner classes six days a week, in addition to intermediate/advanced training and private lessons.

Fencing

As any parent knows, kids can turn almost any oblong object into a sword or lightsaber. But you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy the sport of fencing, which combines physical skills and problem-solving to create a sport that should appeal to many.

“It’s a surprisingly fun sport,” says Jon Jeambey, who coaches fencing for the Naperville Park District. “Half of the battle is your ability to fence, and the other half is a game of chess. You’re always trying to determine what your opponent is doing and how you can use that against him.”

Jeambey leads classes for beginners and intermediates through the park district and a club team for more advanced fencers. Equipment is provided for first-timers, both children and adults, who’ve never tried the sport before.

While fencing may not look physically demanding, it provides a surprisingly good workout. “It’s like jogging, but with your winter coat on,” Jeambey says. “You have to wear the jacket, mask, and gloves; it gets hot as you run back and forth. I pride myself on sending the kids home sweaty.”

Those watching the Olympics undoubtedly noticed that fencing is a technical sport, often requiring officials to go to the monitors to determine complicated rules of “right of way” to determine who gained a point. But for Jeambey, the goal isn’t to get hung up on the split-second differences that can often determine points. “I tell people, ‘I’m here to train fencers, not lawyers,’ ” he says. “You want to spend your time fencing and not arguing. It’s such a fun sport—once people try it, they really enjoy it.”

Rock Climbing

A relative newcomer to the Olympic scene, rock climbing made its debut in 2020. The disciplines of bouldering, lead climbing, and speed climbing were part of the Paris Games and will return in Los Angeles in 2028. Finding a rock climbing wall isn’t all that difficult in the western suburbs, but one of the largest facilities is Funtopia (2639 Aurora Ave.) in Naperville, which features 58 individual walls and eight auto-belay stations at its standard wall. “Just try it, and you’ll fall in love with the sport,” says Yassen Nikolov, Funtopia general manager.

In addition to the climbing walls, the facility offers ropes and ninja courses that encourage climbing through play-related activities. Lessons aren’t needed to get started (“Anyone over the age of 4 can jump right in,” Nikolov says), but camps and adventure programs may help those who want to hone their skills.

Starting in November, Funtopia is opening a new concept at the facility—the ABC Climbing Academy. The company found success with its kids’ climbing program at its Boulder, Colorado, location and is now bringing it to Naperville. It will focus on teaching kids the basics of rock climbing, including skills like route reading, dynamic movement, endurance, and strength development. It also will provide education on more advanced techniques and skills as children develop.

Vertical Endeavors (246 Windy Point Dr.) in Glendale Heights is another top destination for both kids and adults. The facility features walls up to 30 feet high, 35 auto-belay stations, and three bouldering areas. It also hosts an adult climbing league and a women’s-only climbing group.

Beach Volleyball

In the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, beach volleyball served as one of the iconic venues of the Paris Olympics. Apart from the stunning visuals, it’s easy to understand why the sport has become an Olympic favorite, with fast action on the court and a party atmosphere around it. While the outdoor beach season is over for this year, that doesn’t mean you have to wait until next summer.

The Downers Sand Club (1211 Butterfield Rd.) in Downers Grove has two indoor sand volleyball courts open all year round. Leagues are available with two, four or six players to a side. It also hosts tournaments throughout the year. Court time can be rented seven days a week for those who want to organize their own games—or simply throw a beach party.

Looking forward to next year, the Wheaton-based Chicago Sand Volleyball (chicagosandvolleyball.org) hosts a variety of teams, classes and tournaments, most of which target the younger set. Its competitive teams have performed well at state and national championships, but programs are available at several skill levels.

Photos: Naperville Park District; Downers Sand Club; Funtopia Naperville; iStock