Tom Holland recently shared a comical yet intense workout showdown with co-star Jake Gyllenhaal during their promotional tour for Spider-Man: Far From Home. Their friendship has blossomed over the years, but it faced a unique challenge during a fitness challenge in China. Here’s how it all went down.
The Challenge Unfolds
It all began when Jake Gyllenhaal suggested that he and Tom should hit the gym together. What started as a fun idea quickly turned into a memorable and grueling workout session. Tom Holland admitted, “I have to be honest, I didn’t want to go because Jake Gyllenhaal’s ripped, right? And I’m really competitive… So we start working out, we’re doing ab exercises and leg exercises, and then he turns to me and says, Tom, do you want to hop on the treadmill and warm up?’ I’m like, Warm up? I’m roasting, mate, I’m finished!”
But the challenge was far from over. When Gyllenhaal suggested running a mile to warm up, Holland, determined not to back down, proposed running two miles. As they began running, Holland faced the unspoken gym rule: “You can’t run slower than the guy next to you.” He pushed himself to keep up with Gyllenhaal, even though he soon regretted it.
The Uphill Battle
As the run continued, Gyllenhaal decided to raise the stakes by increasing the treadmill’s incline. Holland, never one to back down from a challenge, kept agreeing to the escalating difficulty levels. He explained, “So he goes: we’ll do a quick mile. I’m like, a mile? Are we pressed for time? Come on, let’s do two. So immediately I’m regretting suggesting two miles. We set off, we started running. And there’s a law in the gym, that you can’t run slower than the guy next to you. You just can’t. So I’m running next to him, and two minutes in I’ve got a stitch, I’m wishing everything was over, but I’m saying ‘there’s nothing that’s going to get me off this treadmill. I will beat Jake Gyllenhaal in this race.’ And then three or four minutes in he says ‘Tom, this is too easy, let’s up the incline.'”
And that’s how Tom Holland almost found himself on the brink of breaking his leg in the midst of this epic showdown.
Tom Holland’s amusing recount of this intense gym challenge showcases the camaraderie and competitiveness between the two actors. It’s a memorable tale that adds a touch of humor to their promotional journey for Spider-Man: Far From Home.