Which Beauty and the Beast characters would win Olympics gold?

With the Olympics taking place in France – also the setting of the Disney musical – we asked a star of the show how Gaston, the Beast and co would fare at the event. WATCH THE VIDEO

No one’s quick as Gaston, no one hits like Gaston – but how would Beauty and the Beast’s athletically gifted villain fare at the Olympics?

Given the 2024 Games and the blockbuster Disney musical have a French setting in common, the Herald Sun decided to put Gaston actor Rubin Matters to the test.

“Gaston would definitely do well in the Olympics,” said Matters, who has stepped into the character’s huge boots while main cast member Jackson Head is on leave.

“(He is) definitely a gold medallist, at least in his mind. Not (at) a team sport, I think definitely a solo venture.

“He’s naturally gifted with archery and discus, and anything athletics related. But I just have a feeling he’d be a gymnastics star (like) Simone Biles.”

REVIEW: Beauty and the Beast stuns as famed Broadway show opens in Melbourne

Gaston – played by Rubin Matters and pictured with the ensemble of Disney's Beauty and the Beast the Musical, including as Gaston and Nick Cox as Le Fou – is athletically gifted in the musical. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Gaston performs multiple Olympics sports during the show, including archery. Pictured: Rubin Matters, Nick Cox and the ensemble of Beauty and the Beast. Picture: Eugene Hyland

The character performs multiple Olympic sports – including archery, boxing, shooting and discus – in one of Beauty and the Beast’s most spectacular numbers, Gaston.

Matters suspected several of the musical’s characters would have a shot at the podium were they to compete at an Olympics – including Babette in the rhythmic gymnastics, Le Fou at table tennis, and the Beast at a strength sport like weightlifting or wrestling.

“Belle would sing at the opening ceremony,” he added.

The cast of Disney's Beauty and the Beast the Musical – including Rubin Matters as Gaston and Nick Cox as Le Fou – re-enacting an old-school Olympic events: the tug of war. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Gaston would be a gold medallist – at least in his mind – performer Rubin Matter says. Picture: Eugene Hyland

He expected the show’s cast and crew to be glued to the Paris Games in between shows and rehearsals.

“Especially Dobbo (Rodney Dobson) who plays Maurice, he’s probably our most passionate sports fan,” Matters said. “He has normally got the footy playing in the dressing room.

“I have a feeling we will end up in the green room with the big TV on, split focusing between the show and the Olympics.”

Gaston wrestles a helpless bystander. Pictured: Rubin Matters, Nick Cox and the ensemble of Beauty and the Beast. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Rubin Matters as Gaston from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast the Musical re-enacts the Olympics event of weightlifting, watched by Nick Cox as Le Fou and ensemble cast Tanika Anderson, Amba Fewster and Chloe Malek. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Beauty and the Beast is playing at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre. Tickets are on sale until the end of the year at beautyandthebeastmusical.com.au