Gary Lineker, the former host of Match of the Day, recently shared an amusing anecdote about his day at Wimbledon. He revealed that he spent a rather uncomfortable day sitting next to Anthony Joshua, the ex-heavyweight world champion boxer.
Lineker and Joshua were seated together in the Royal Box on Day Five of the Championships. They witnessed Taylor Fritz and Carlos Alcaraz secure victories before watching Emma Raducanu's thrilling match against Aryna Sabalenka under Centre Court's roof.
Despite enjoying some great tennis matches, Lineker confessed that it was a painful experience due to Joshua's size. The 6ft 7ins tall boxer caused discomfort for Lineker who suffered from leg cramps throughout their seven-hour stint together.
Unforgettable encounter
During his Rest Is Football podcast with Micah Richards and Alan Shearer, Lineker recounted his experience: "I went to Wimbledon the other day. I just want to thank Wimbledon for inviting me; it was lovely. I took my youngest, Angus."
"We sat next to Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn and we had a laugh watching some great tennis," he added.
Richards complimented him saying: "Can I just say, you were looking marvellous." To which Shearer humorously responded: "Micah, he was looking marvellous until you looked to his left and saw Anthony Joshua."
Lineker continued sharing his story despite their banter - revealing how he managed not to let out an X-rated outburst due to discomfort caused by leg cramps.
Gary Lineker, Premier League legend, said:
"I was sitting in the seats next to Anthony, and he's obviously huge. His legs… and the only way he sits, because there wasn't enough room, was he had his legs wide open. And I was forced, for like seven hours, whatever it was, to put my legs to the… it got to the stage where I was getting cramp in my inside thigh so badly.
"And the game was going on and I wanted to shout. But I never had the balls, at any point, to tell him, 'Will you f***ing move your legs over a little bit, give me some room?'
"Absolutely true. But he's a lovely, lovely guy and I had a laugh with him. And they were great company for the afternoon."
Future plans
Interestingly enough, there seemed uncertainty over whether Lineker would be able attend future events like this one as he was scheduled cover World Cup for BBC in 2026. However, after leaving BBC at end of 2024-25 season following fallout with the bosses, it seems he might have more opportunities for such experiences.
While Lineker's day at Wimbledon was marked by discomfort due to his seating arrangement with Anthony Joshua, it certainly made for an amusing story. Despite the physical discomfort, Lineker managed to enjoy some great tennis and shared a laugh with his companions. His experience serves as a reminder that even in uncomfortable situations, there can be moments of joy and humor.
