History Main / OutclassedAtTheGym

* ''Manga/UzakiChanWantsToHangOut'': One chapter/episode follows Uzaki's younger brother Kiri, who tries to invoke this when he goes to the gym where his dad works and sees it's full of old people and tries to show off in front of them. [[LaserGuidedKarma He ends up on the receiving end]] when he gets outclassed by a muscular older man doing bench press, and an old lady on the threadmill. The worst part comes when he tries to "challenge" Sakurai ([[UnknownRival who doesn't even notice]]) to a swimming race at the pool and gets overtaken him no less than ''six'' times.

* When George Banks starts having a HollywoodMidLifeCrisis over becoming a grandfather in ''[[Film/FatherOfTheBride1991 Father of the Bride - Part II]]'' he goes to the gym to try and prove he's still young, whilst he's surrounded by buff men and women working out a gym assistant has to stop him using a rather small set of barbells with the suggestion of "You better take it easy there, [[MaamShock Pops]]".

* Trope image comes from ''Anime/MobPsycho100'', when Mob joined the body improvement club at his school. Thankfully, unlike most examples, the members of the club are actually extremely supportive of Mob despite his lack of physical ability, since joining the club to improve ones self is the main ''point'' of the club. When Mob managed to do ten push ups, the entire group cheered for him. Overall it carries [[AnAesop the Aesop]] that people who want to improve themselves physically shouldn't be mocked for where they start out, and should actively be encouraged by those around them, since wanting to improve ones self is ''never'' a bad thing.

* Trope image comes from ''Anime/MobPsycho'', when Mob joined the body improvement club at his school. Thankfully, unlike most examples, the members of the club are actually extremely supportive of Mob despite his lack of physical ability, since joining the club to improve ones self is the main ''point'' of the club. When Mob managed to do ten push ups, the entire group cheered for him. Overall it carries [[AnAesop the Aesop]] that people who want to improve themselves physically shouldn't be mocked for where they start out, and should actively be encouraged by those around them, since wanting to improve ones self is ''never'' a bad thing.

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=16835898200.78174700
%% Please don't change or remove without starting a new thread.

[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/MobPsycho100 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mobgym_3.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Wait 'till he finds out this is just the pre-workout!]]

* ''Series/{{Friends}}'' (S1 E21): Monica goes to a dance class with Rachel and Phoebe to find the woman who stole her credit card. During the lesson [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/friends_monicas_credit_card_gets_stolen__season_1_clip__tbs_copia.jpg Monica discovers that she is the most unsuitable]]
* In ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' (S6 E21) Leonard tries to impress a university administrator into getting tenure by going to the gym and working out with her. It is quickly apparent that he is unsuited to training and [[https://media.tenor.com/u0tdWODRNtIAAAAd/the-big-bang-theory-leonard.gif he is mocked by Barry]], a rival for the job. Eventually Leonard [[https://media.tenor.com/oY_0X-n0M-EAAAAd/the-big-bang-theory-leonard.gif collapses to the ground exhausted]] while the others train calmly

* ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' opens with Steve running laps around Sam during a morning jog. Sam is in good shape, but Steve "Captain America" Rogers is a hunky "specimen" in peak physical condition. At the end of it Sam is absolutely knackered while Steve is only a little out of breath, and the two banter about it.

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Webcomic/MobPsycho100'' has a wholesome variation. Out of a desire to make something of himself the skinny introvert Mob joins the Body Improvement Club, a group of incredibly muscular jocks, and is initially the runt at the end of the litter in all their exercise routines. The Body Improvement Club adores Mob and is nothing but supportive of his attempts to improve his fitness.
* ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'': Subverted. The Hero Association application process includes multiple physical exams to test physical abilities. Saitama is ridiculed by the bigger and buffer other applicants for his relatively lean musculature. However, Saitama uses his insane strength to shatter every test record by insane margins. The other applicants quit on the spot.
[[/folder]]

* ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend'': In [[Recap/CrazyExGirlfriendS1E2JoshsGirlfriendIsReallyCool "Josh's Girlfriend is Really Cool!"]], Rebecca, an average woman, tries to suss out her ex's girlfriend Valencia at the latter's yoga class. As a newcomer to yoga, Rebecca feels insecure about how much better everyone in the class is and is intimidated by the flexible, toned, and conventionally beautiful Valencia. Played for laughs when Rebecca extrapolates, thinking that Valencia is not only ''physically'' superior to her, but also superior in ''every other way'', such as not sharing Rebecca's weird fear of clowns and trains.

[[quoteright:350:[[Anime/MobPsycho100 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mobgym_3.png]]]]

* ''Manga/MobPsycho100'' has a wholesome variation. Out of a desire to make something of himself the skinny introvert Mob joins the Body Improvement Club, a group of incredibly muscular jocks, and is initially the runt at the end of the litter in all their exercise routines. The Body Improvement Club adores Mob and is nothing but supportive of his attempts to improve his fitness.
* ''Anime/OnePunchMan'': Subverted. The Hero Association application process includes multiple physical exams to test physical abilities. Saitama is ridiculed by the bigger and buffer other applicants for his relatively lean musculature. However, Saitama uses his insane strength to shatter every test record by insane margins. The other applicants quit on the spot.

Due to the association of physicality and musculature with masculinity, male-male examples might involve additional feelings of emasculation (i.e. they're not as strong/sculpted, and are thus less of a 'man'). However, it can also be applied to female characters, especially (due to MenAreStrongWomenArePretty) with exercises that show off the body like yoga or pole-dancing.

* ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend'': In [[Recap/CrazyExGirlfriendS1E2JoshsGirlfriendIsReallyCool "Josh's Girlfriend is Really Cool!"]], Rebecca, an average woman, tries to suss out her ex's girlfriend Valencia at the latter's yoga class. As a newcomer to yoga, Rebecca feels insecure about how much better everyone in the class is, and is intimidated by the flexible, toned, and conventionally beautiful Valencia. Played for laughs when Rebecca extrapolates, thinking that Valencia is not only ''physically'' superior to her, but also superior in ''every other way'', such as not sharing Rebecca's weird fear of clowns and trains.
* ''Series/HouseOfAnubis'': Happens on a group scale when Anubis House is preparing for the dodgeball tournament. Their rival house, Isis House, is demonstrated to be not only incredibly unified, but also far more athletically capable than Anubis House, who happens to rank last in every single sports tournament. Simply watching them do their group exercises demoralizes the Anubis students, while Willow acknowledges that when she lived there, their motto was "win or die trying". This inferiority gets worse when [[TheRival Ben]] notices Eddie's efforts to coach his team and attempts to offer advice, which Eddie stubbornly shoots down.
* ''Series/JaneTheVirgin'': In [[Recap/JaneTheVirginS3E5ChapterFortyNine "Chapter Forty Nine"]], Rafael and Michael go to the gym together. Rafael is conspicuously more muscular than Michael, and wearing a [[MrFanservice far more revealing shirt]], showing all his arms, shoulders, and much of his chest, in contrast with Michael's normal, modest t-shirt. Rafael also makes flirtatious eye contact with a woman while lifting weights. Michael thinks Rafael is vain and slutty. Rafael thinks Michael is judgey. At the end of the episode, though, the men reach out and make amends.

* ''Series/TheWire'': After the first batch of kids at Dennis' boxing gym start getting cocky about their abilities, he [[InvokedTrope deliberately organizes a sparring bout for them with some younger, but well trained boxers from another gym]] to knock them down a peg. But despite being outclassed, Justin shows commitment by standing for the full round.

** Later on, Undine attempts to join her at the Magical Girl Power Training Club, but quickly grows frustrated with her lack of progress compared to the others. Still, Heartful Punch offers some encouragement and reminds Undine not to push herself too hard, especially since she's just starting out.

** In "Believe It or Not, Joe's Walking on Air", Joe recovers his mobility after a leg transplant and forces Peter, Cleveland and Quagmire to partake in extreme exercises they cannot handle, such as rock climbing, karate and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking dancing to a Judy Garland song]]. He eventually grows annoyed by the gang's lack of fitness and abandons them for a new group of friends.

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': In "Up the Down Steroid", Cartman pretends to have a mental disability in order to participate in the special olympics. However, he is so out-of-shape that the other contestants effortlessly beat him in all competitions. He is infuriated to come in last place, though his mood improves when he is given a consolation award of 50 dollars.

** In "Ripped Pants", Larry and Sandy perform impressive weightlifting feats, while [=SpongeBob=] struggles to lift a stick with two mashmallows on its sides. The strain causes him to accidentally rip his pants, and although he is mortified at first, he comes to embrace the crowd's laughter. For the rest of the episode, [=SpongeBob=] keeps purposefully ripping his pants while failing to keep up with Larry and Sandy's athletic achievements, eventually alienating observers due to the sheer saturation of the joke.

A usually comedic scene where an AthleticallyChallenged, unfit or averagely fit person exercises alongside someone who is very in shape and is predictably outdone by a country mile. They can't lift as much weight, they can't run as far as fast, and [[MuscleAngst their body isn't as toned]]. As a result, they feel PatheticallyWeak or at least insecure about their fitness level and appearance and unfavorably compare themselves to the other character. If the other person is their rival, whether in love or some other conflict, these feelings of inadequacy might be heightened -- fitness is just another way the other character is AlwaysSomeoneBetter.

* ''Series/CrazyExGirlfriend'': In [[Recap/CrazyExGirlfriendS1E2JoshsGirlfriendIsReallyCool "Josh's Girlfriend is Really Cool!"]], Rebecca, an average woman, tries to suss out her ex's girlfriend Valencia at the latter's yoga class. As a newcomer to yoga, Rebecca feels insecure about how much better everyone in the class is, and is intimidated by the flexible, toned, and conventionally beautiful Valencia.

* ''Series/JaneTheVirgin'': In [[Recap/JaneTheVirginS3E5ChapterFortyNine "Chapter Forty Nine"]], Rafael and Michael go to the gym together. Rafael is conspicuously more muscular than Michael, and wearing a [[MrFanservice far more revealing shirt]], showing all his arms, shoulders, and much of his chest, in contrast with Michael's normal, modest t-shirt. Rafael also makes flirtatious eye contact with a woman at the gym while lifting weights. Michael thinks Rafael is rather vain and slutty. Rafael thinks Michael is judgey. At the end of the episode, though, the men reach out and make amends.
-->'''Michael:''' And I'm sorry for getting insecure about your muscles.
-->'''Rafael:''' ''[beat]'' I had cancer. That's why I'm so focused now. I like controlling my health.

* When George Banks starts having a HollywoodMidLifeCrisis over becoming a grandfather in ''[[Film/FatherOfTheBride1991 Father of the Bride - Part II]]'' he goes to the gym to try and prove he's still young, whilst he's surrounded by buff men and women working out a gym assistant has to stop him using a rather small set of barbells with the suggestion of "Take it easy, Pops".

Despite the name, [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible this isn't restricted to gyms]]: it can take place anywhere people can improve their fitness, such as a lap pool, a hike, or a pilates class. It doesn't have to be one person feeling embarrassed next to another person, either: it can be the RuntAtTheEnd of an extremely fit group, or an entire group getting showed up by the OpposingSportsTeam. What matters is the difference in apparent fitness and the feelings that arise as a result.

Despite the name, [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible this isn't restricted to gyms]]: it can take place anywhere people can improve their fitness, such as a lap pool, a hike, or a pilates class. It doesn't have to be one person feeling embarrassed next to another person, either: it can be the runt at the end of an extremely fit group, or an entire group getting showed up by the OpposingSportsTeam. What matters is the difference in apparent fitness and the feelings that arise as a result.

A usually comedic scene where an AthleticallyChallenged, unfit or averagely fit person exercises alongside someone who is very in shape and is predictably outdone by a country mile. They can't lift as much weight, they can't run as far as fast, and [[MuscleAngst their body isn't as toned]]. As a result, they feel insecure about their fitness level and appearance and unfavorably compare themselves to the other character. If the other person is their rival, whether in love or some other conflict, these feelings of inadequacy might be heightened -- fitness is just another way the other character is AlwaysSomeoneBetter.

** The show's first CutawayGag takes place in a German gym, with a scrawny Adolf Hitler struggling to lift small barbells, and then he notices [[MatzoFever a very muscular stereotypical Jewish man]] with ALadyOnEachArm, resulting in Hitler growling in envy.

[[folder:Films -- Live Action]]