30 Sports We Only Talk About During the Olympics
We're taking a stroll through the lesser-known events of Olympic sports—the ones that make us go, "Oh yeah, I remember that!"
Every two years, we celebrate the Summer or Winter Olympics, and sports we forget existed steal the spotlight. It’s that time again when the world tunes in to watch elite athletes chase gold, silver, and bronze in events we often forget about until the Games roll around.
In this article, we’re taking a stroll through the lesser-known events of Olympic sports—the ones that make us go, “Oh yeah, I remember that!” From rhythmic gymnastics to modern pentathlon, we’re shining a light on the underdogs that play second fiddle to things like basketball or football—even to swimming and track and field!
Don’t worry, we won’t leave out the classics entirely. But the offbeat and obscure events celebrate what makes the Olympics truly exciting. So, come along as we explore the world of Olympic sports we only seem to remember every two years. Here are 30 sporting events that don’t matter outside of the Olympics.
Equestrian Dressage
Personally, equestrian dressage doesn’t seem like a sporting event at all, so it makes sense no one talks about it outside of the Olympics. In this competition, discipline is key.
It’s all about showing how well the rider has trained their horse. It dates back two thousand years ago when having complete control over your horse meant life or death.
Hammer Throw
Hammer throw is a little bit of a misnomer for those who aren’t in the know or don’t watch the sport during the Olympics.
The “hammer” used in this event is a metal ball attached by a steel wire to a grip. Basically, the goal is to throw it as far as you can.
Fencing
Fencing is fun to watch, but no one gets together with their buddies to watch a fencing competition at their local bar or pizza joint.
It’s all the buzz during the Olympics, especially since it’s part of the modern pentathlon.
Discus
Discus is another track and field event that carried over from the Greek Olympics. Other than the Olympics, no one talks about the discus throw.
Fun fact: Sam Mattis from the U.S.A. took eighth place in Tokyo in 2020.
Hurdles
Unless you’re in track and field, chances are, you don’t watch competitive hurdles outside of the Olympics.
This is a sporting event in which athletes race against each other while jumping over obstacles to reach the finish line.
Trampoline
Many of us own a trampoline at home, but it’s only a sport during the Olympics. During this time, athletes perform flips and tricks that you pray your kids don’t try at home.
Let’s also hope they can’t jump as high as athletes in the trampoline event—they average over 26 feet in the air!
Water Polo
Water polo is a great way to get wrinkly fingers. In this sport, teams play water rugby—that is, two teams attempt to throw a ball into the other team’s goal.
It may look like water soccer, but it’s a full-contact sport that can result in injuries. I bet you didn’t know that!
Swimming
No one cares about swimming until the Olympics. Maybe we can thank Michael Phelps for making this sport all the rage, but people don’t pay attention outside of the Games.
Although, you may notice someone swimming laps at your local gym. We would like to note this is not the same thing.
Javelin Throw
Being able to throw a javelin is an impressive talent, but not an important one nowadays. The javelin throw is one of the ancient Greek skills needed for soldiers.
It was pretty significant being able to take out your opponent from a distance. Outside of the Olympics, javelin throw isn’t a huge topic of discussion.
Pole Vault
Pole vaulting or pole jumping was practiced in several parts of the ancient world, but not a whole lot today. If you’ve ever used a stick to vault over a creek, you understand the basics.
Sometimes, it’s a sporting event at schools that have track and field, but most people only hear about it during the Olympics.
Race Walk
In this case, I may be stretching the truth a little. Many sitcoms have made fun of race walking—Malcolm in the Middle, for example.
However, it’s a real sporting event during the Olympics. Do we even remember this event during the Olympics?
Shot Put
Shot put is one of the other track and field events that involve throwing something extremely heavy as far as you can. The sporting event is mentioned as far back as the Siege of Troy.
But Olympians aren’t trying to take down Troy these days when they toss the dead weights 75 feet.
Speed Skating
Speed skating takes two forms at the Olympics—regular and short track. Neither event is a particularly uproarious sport that we talk about when the Games aren’t on television.
The concept is simple: get to the finish line as fast as possible. It does make for good entertainment, though, when one goes down—they tend to take out several on their way down.
Sailing
Outside of the Olympics, sailing is something people do for leisure. When someone says they’re going sailing, most people picture open waters and lots of sun tanning.
In the Olympics, sailing means racing against contestants on either a sailboat or a windsurfer.
Rowing
Rowing is a sport at some colleges, but it’s mainly an Olympic sport. Participating in a rowing team requires a lot of upper-body strength and coordination.
This is primarily because the athletes can row up to 14 miles per hour. That’s insanely fast.
Synchronized Swimming
Synchronized swimming is another major event during the Olympics, whether you’re fascinated by the coordination or laughing at the way everyone looks.
There’s no doubt it makes the funniest pictures from the Olympics, but we only get to see these faces every four years.
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Rhythmic gymnastics is one of the most enjoyable sports to watch during the Olympics. The participants are incredibly graceful and can move in ways we can only dream about.
Once the Olympics are over, we completely forget that the event exists, though.
Curling
While I’m sure someone plays curling outside of the Olympics, it’d be hard to find them. Curling is a sport in which players slide stones on a sheet of ice toward a target.
The closer they get to the center, the more points they score. It’s like a large winter shuffleboard.
Diving
Most people don’t search the TV for competitive diving. That being said, it’s one of the biggest events of the Olympics.
Some of the flips and tricks during the Olympics are amazing, but we don’t seek it out on television any other time of the year.
Skeleton
Was luge not dangerous enough for you? What if it involved one person on a tiny sled sliding headfirst down an icy track? That just described the sport of skeleton, which gets its name from the type of sled used.
Thankfully, skeleton riders don’t go nearly as fast as those in luge.
Beach Volleyball
Beach volleyball isn’t a topic of discussion unless you’re in a sorority in Florida or watching the Olympics. Outside of the Olympics, it’s not taken very seriously.
Most people forget about it entirely until they’re walking down the boardwalk and see a group hitting a ball around.
Luge
Luge is a sport where one or two team members squeeze onto a tiny sled with their legs hanging off the end. Unlike bobsleigh, there’s no protection if they go off track.
They hurtle down an icy track while steering their way to the end. If bobsleigh isn’t the most dangerous sport, luge definitely is.
Figure Skating
There’s no doubt that figure skating is one of the most popular events at the Olympics. We all love to see amazing skaters performing tricks and dancing to music, but it’s practically forgotten every other year.
It makes the figure skating event extra special. But out of sight, out of mind.
Handball
Handball is precisely what it sounds like. It’s a sporting event where two teams attempt to score as many goals as they can. It’s like soccer (or football for Europeans), but teams use their hands instead of their feet.
It’s also a little like basketball since the player who holds the ball has to dribble the ball every three steps or every three seconds.
Bobsleigh
Bobsleighing always looks fun, but we immediately forget it exists when it’s not the Winter Olympics. In this sport, two to four teammates dash the finish as fast as they can down a narrow, twisting track.
Due to the speed of the sport, bobsleigh has to be one of the least safe events during the Games.
Canoe Sprint
The canoe sprint is a sporting event where athletes race canoes or kayaks on calm water. Unlike the canoe slalom, there aren’t goals to race through.
Instead, participants race up to four opponents to the finish line. May the fastest paddler win.
Biathlon
A biathlon is a winter event that combines cross-country skiing with another classic event. Can you guess which? If you said rifle shooting, you’re right.
I wouldn’t have guessed rifle shooting, and I’m not entirely sure it should count as a winter sport. After the cross-country skiing event, participants must shoot a target that’s 50 meters away using a bolt-action rifle.
Canoe Slalom
Be honest – do you know what canoe slalom is? I didn’t until I started watching the Olympics. Canoeing slalom is extremely similar to canoe sprint, with the exception that the athlete must traverse white rapids.
Paddlers must navigate up or downstream through gates without touching the gate, missing the gate, or losing control of their canoe.
Badminton
Some people may play badminton occasionally, but that doesn’t mean it’s a sport that’s on everyone’s “to watch” list. Badminton is one of those Olympic games you’ll watch if it’s on, and if someone is talking about it, they’re talking about the 2012 scandal.
During the Olympics, eight players were trying to fix the game so they could play against easier teams in the finals. It was discussed then, but not so much now.
Modern Pentathlon
The modern pentathlon is a doozie of an event. It’s an individual competition where each player must excel in five different events, including fencing, swimming, running, show jumping, and shooting. So, athletes who participate in the modern pentathlon have their work cut out for them because they have to be good at all five sporting events, and it isn’t like they cross over much. A good runner may not necessarily be an excellent marksman.
Why so much? Well, this event traces back to the original Olympics. All of these skills were necessary for someone to be the ideal Greek soldier. Riding on horseback, running, swimming, sword fighting, and aiming were all essential for battle. There have been many attempts to remove it, which makes total sense. Even if it’s super fun for us to watch, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone chatting about a pentathlon outside of the Olympics.
