Gary Cahill is the sports day hero we never knew we needed.UK readers will be acutely aware of the ins and outs of the cultural staple that is sports day: the yearly event where children up and down the country battle it out in some of the most fearsome events of all.Yes, that's right, we're talking about the absolute apex of athletic performance from the egg and spoon race, obstacle course, skipping race, wheelbarrow race and other, frankly, Olympic-worthy events.

The joy of sports day

However, as we all know, sports day isn't just about the children because there is often also an opportunity for the parents to roll back the clock and have a go at one of the events themselves.

And as much as many dads, mums and guardians might play it coy about how seriously they take these events, we all know that they secretly treat it as though it's the Olympic 100-metre final.

It just wouldn't be a proper sports day if Barry, 47, hadn't spent two gym sessions getting in some lukewarm preparation before tearing his hamstring three metres into thinking that he was the second coming of Usain Bolt.

But sometimes, ever so often, the over-seriousness of the parents' race can throw up moments of pure athletic brilliance and that's especially the case when said adult actually has a grounding in sport.

Children competing at sports day.
BROMLEY, ENGLAND - JULY 19: Emma Raducanu visits her former school, 'Bickley Primary' on July 19, 2021 in Bromley, England. Ms Raducanu, who is a youth ambassador for the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), made a surprise visit to the school as they enjoyed sports day. The 18-year-old professional tennis player made her main-drawn grand-slam debut at this year's Wimbledon tournament, becoming the youngest British woman to reach the Round of 16. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

BROMLEY, ENGLAND - JULY 19: Emma Raducanu visits her former school, 'Bickley Primary' on July 19, 2021 in Bromley, England. Ms Raducanu, who is a youth ambassador for the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), made a surprise visit to the school as they enjoyed sports day. The 18-year-old professional tennis player made her main-drawn grand-slam debut at this year's Wimbledon tournament, becoming the youngest British woman to reach the Round of 16. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Cahill becomes sports day hero

That's where Gary Cahill comes in because the former Chelsea captain and England international showed the world his own attempt at competing in sports day this week - and it's an absolute belter.

Taking on other parents in the world-renowned 'sack race', Cahill showed exactly the sort of physical prowess that saw him get his hands on Champions League and Premier League titles with some world-class hopping.

The father of two proudly tweeted his winning performance on Saturday having fought tooth and nail to ensure that he crossed the line in first place.

Breaking clear of the pack early on, the 36-year-old approached the line neck-a-neck with another parent and made sure that he nicked the victory by way of launching himself across the line.

Aptly accompanying the race footage with the caption: "I just wanted it more!", you haven't enjoyed your weekend to the fullest if you haven't seen Cahill's triumph, so be sure to check it out down below:

Not all heroes wear capes.

Take a bow, Gary

The fact that Cahill is simultaneously treating the parents' race like it's the Champions League final and also having a laugh at the same time only makes us love the former Bournemouth defender even more.

That poor fellow parent must have thought that he'd caused a seismic upset by besting an elite athlete with 61 caps for England in a do-or-die sack-hopping battle, but alas, it just wasn't to be in the final few steps.

And if any clubs are looking for a free agent in fantastic physical shape and with an undoubtable will to win, then perhaps they should look no further than Cahill and his sports day antics.

Cahill clapping at Bournemouth.
Soccer Football - Championship - AFC Bournemouth v Huddersfield Town - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - October 23, 2021 AFC Bournemouth's Gary Cahill after the match Action Images/Andrew Couldridge EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative

Soccer Football - Championship - AFC Bournemouth v Huddersfield Town - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - October 23, 2021 AFC Bournemouth's Gary Cahill after the match Action Images/Andrew Couldridge EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Be right back, just off to spend three hours in the gym hopping myself to death in an old potato sack. My future children will be so proud when I take the applause in 2033.