Rick Astley left in dust after facing Olympic champ at kids’ sports day dad race

Pop star Rick turned up for the dads’ race at his kid’s school sports day — only to find he was going up against Olympic hero Daley Thompson, as well as some rock music royalty

Pop star Rick Astley turned up for the dads’ race at his kid’s school sports day — only to find he was facing Olympic hero Daley Thompson. To make matters worse, also in the line-up was superfit Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.

The Never Gonna Give You Up singer realised he didn’t stand a chance up against Daley, who won the decathlon gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1980 and 1984. The athlete also broke the world record for the event four times and was unbeaten in competition for nine years.

Rick, who turned 60 in Friday, winced: “I did the dads’ 100-metre race at school with Sir Mick Jagger, and also Daley Thompson, the greatest sportsman who’s ever lived. You think you’ve got the energy for it, because your heart and your head are telling you that you have, but your body’s going, ‘Nope!'”

The singer is back on tour this year but he admitted reaching his milestone birthday has made him take stock. He explained: “It’s really odd. On the one hand, I don’t feel any different — but 60 is a big one.

“I made a record when I turned 50 and I’m in the process of doing something along those lines right now. It feels a bit weird to even entertain the idea of making music and doing gigs at 60.

“I went to a Paul McCartney gig a couple of years ago in Texas, and I was just like, ‘My God, this is ridiculous! Where does he get the fricking energy to go and do a full set?’

“On the other hand, I can’t lie, my body feels older, but I don’t think my heart does. I still feel hungry for things, I just pace myself a bit more. I feel, sometimes you need to recharge your batteries.

“We’re going on tour in April, and I’m already getting myself in shape for that. I can’t just walk onstage and do it any more — and I don’t do dance routines!”

It comes after the 80s superstar recently admitted that despite being happily married to darling wife Lene Bausager since 2003, he is not having as much sex as he should. The pair met at the height of the singer’s fame, and officially tied the knot after 16 years of love, but looking back on his time with his partner, he said that the pair were not getting down and dirty that regularly.

“Wahey! I’d say not enough, like any married couple probably,” he said in an interview with the Sun. But despite perhaps the pair not having as much fun in bed as they used to, the pair are still as loved up as ever.

And it’s thanks to his wife that he released an album filled with new songs to celebrate the singer’s 50th birthday on February 6, 2024. He explained that while she may not be fully won over by his career, her undying love for him is what is keeping the star’s light shining.

“I know Lene is not for one second impressed with what I do for a living. It’s the respect we show each other and the moments of love that are what we’re about.”

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