Playing Favorites: What Do These Athletes Do When They're Not Competing?

The grind of elite youth athletics leaves little downtime, but when it does come, these competitors make the most of it. In a Playing Favorites segment hosted by Rachel DeMita, a group of young athletes answered one simple question: what's your favorite thing to do when you're not playing sports?

The answers ranged from the outdoors to the couch. Fishing came up multiple times, with several athletes independently naming it as their go-to escape. One athlete keeps it close to home, spending time with younger brothers, while another unwinds with dogs. Golf and bowling made the list, as did swimming — one athlete calling it a genuine passion, not just cross-training.

Video games drew a few votes, and more than one competitor gave the most honest answer of all: sleep. Rest and recovery, one noted, come first — then everything else.

The segment offers a glimpse at the human side of athletes who spend the majority of their time training, competing, and preparing for the next level.