Paintball might still be best known as a weekend adrenaline rush for office workers and stag dos, but in a muddy field in Penkridge, Staffordshire, a group of serious athletes are dead set on something far bigger — Olympic recognition.
With the crack of paintball markers echoing across the site, GB Paintball’s national squads — men’s, women’s, and juniors — train with discipline and purpose. For them, this isn’t just play. It’s preparation. It’s pride. And above all, it’s the hope that one day they’ll walk behind the Union Jack at an Olympic opening ceremony.
A Field of Dreams in the Midlands
Tucked in the heart of England, Penkridge has quietly transformed into the nerve center of British paintball.
Coaches and athletes alike now refer to the Staffordshire village as “the hub” — not just for practice, but for ambition. “This is where everyone comes to grow,” said Jim McGowan, GB Paintball’s head coach. And he means it literally and figuratively.
McGowan’s not the type to exaggerate. A straight-talking, ginger-bearded mentor with a passion that’s obvious in every word, he’s been pushing for the sport’s growth for years. “Getting paintball recognised as a proper sport is our first step. Getting it into the Olympics? That’s the dream. For every single one of us.”
Paintball isn’t in the Olympics — yet. But it has a format, structure, and fanbase that’s grown far beyond hobby status.
Fast, Fierce, and Built for TV
Unlike the longer-form, chaotic paintball most casual players know, tournament paintball has evolved into a sharp, tactical, almost gladiator-like sport.
Each match? Just 15 to 20 minutes. Two teams. Five players each. One goal: hit the buzzer at the other team’s base before they get to yours. All while dodging pellets flying at nearly 200 miles per hour.
You’re out the moment a paintball splats on your gear.
“People think it’s just running and shooting,” said Alex Dowson, GB’s lead strength and conditioning coach. “But there’s so much more — tactics, vision, fitness. You need to be mentally on point, every second.”
Dowson lives in Kempsey, Worcestershire, but spends much of his time fine-tuning players’ endurance, flexibility, and explosive strength.
And yes, the bruises come with the job.
The Olympic Angle: Aiming for LA, Eyes on Brisbane
Paintball isn’t on the roster for Paris 2024 or Los Angeles 2028. But insiders say Brisbane 2032 might just be its shot.
Olympic entry isn’t just about petitions. It’s a multi-year process involving sport federations, global consistency in rules, gender balance, doping compliance, youth appeal, and of course — global popularity.
That last one might actually work in paintball’s favor.
• Over 10 million people play paintball annually worldwide
• Professional leagues exist in the US, Europe, and Asia
• Paintball features in youth sports programs in over 40 countries
But there’s one hitch — global coordination. Unlike FIFA in football or FIBA in basketball, paintball still doesn’t have a single dominant world governing body with Olympic recognition. That’s a huge barrier.
Still, Dowson’s not giving up. “The LA cycle might be too soon. But Brisbane? We’re working like it’s happening. We’re training athletes now who could be Olympians in seven years.”
Young Guns and Grassroots Momentum
GB Paintball isn’t banking on elite athletes alone. Its strength lies in its base — and its bench.
The national program fields U16 and U19 squads alongside its senior men’s and women’s teams. These aren’t token youth teams. They’re fiercely competitive. And they train hard.
“Some of these kids are faster, sharper, and honestly, braver than the adults,” McGowan laughed. “They just go.”
One of them — 17-year-old Ethan from Wolverhampton — says paintball gave him confidence and focus. “I was pretty shy before. Paintball made me feel like I belonged to something.”
Another, 15-year-old Izzy from Birmingham, says she got into the sport through her brother, but stayed because of the adrenaline. “You don’t think. You react. And when you hit the buzzer, it’s the best feeling ever.”
That social bond is something coaches hope to lean on as they campaign for the sport’s recognition.
Strength, Stamina and Paint: A Different Kind of Fitness
Paintball isn’t just fast-paced. It’s demanding — physically and mentally. Players crouch, sprint, dive, and pivot across inflatable bunkers over 15-minute stretches. Repeatedly.
Dowson runs tailored sessions (yes, that’s the only time we’ll use that word) focusing on:
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Functional strength over bulk
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Agility drills for movement control
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Breath training to manage stress in-game
But it’s the mental side that often surprises new players. “You’re processing 10 moving targets, running a play, listening to your captain, all while being shot at. You don’t have time to second guess.”
Dowson believes this mix of intensity and decision-making makes it “absolutely wonderful” for a live audience. “Put it on Olympic TV? People would be hooked.”
And perhaps he’s right. It wouldn’t be the first unconventional sport to catch fire on the big stage.
Olympics or Not, They’re Not Slowing Down
Even if Brisbane doesn’t happen, the GB squads are full steam ahead.
They’ve just hosted the second leg of a European championship event in Penkridge — with teams from France, Germany, and Italy in attendance. McGowan called it the “most competitive we’ve had yet.”
He also hinted at a broader British paintball league being in the works for 2026. “We’ve got the talent, we’ve got the grounds, and we’ve got the hunger.”
