Olympic Sports You Probably Didn’t Know Existed

3 December 2025

When you think of the Olympics, what comes to mind? Likely sports like gymnastics, track and field, swimming, and maybe even basketball. But did you know there are Olympic events so quirky, niche, or downright unusual that most sports fans have never even heard of them?

The Olympic Games have a long and rich history—a tradition that dates back over 2,700 years. And along the way, the list of included sports has evolved, expanded, and sometimes gotten a little...weird. Some sports only showed up for one or two games before being retired. Others quietly live in the background, overshadowed by the high-profile events.

So buckle up, sports fans. We’re about to dive into the lesser-known and totally fascinating world of Olympic sports you probably didn’t know existed.

1. Tug of War (Yes, Really)

Remember playing tug of war in your backyard or during school field days? Believe it or not, this childhood favorite was once a legitimate Olympic sport.

When It Was in the Olympics

Tug of war was part of the Olympic program from 1900 to 1920. That’s five Olympic Games where grown adults battled it out in a contest of brute strength and teamwork.

Teams of eight people competed to pull their opponents six feet across the line. If neither team could pull the other within five minutes? It became a stalemate and oddly enough, a rematch.

Why It Was Dropped

Eventually, tug of war was removed when the Olympics reduced the number of team and track events to streamline the Games. Still, it remains a nostalgic and iconic image of Olympics past.

2. Racewalking — Speed Walking on Steroids

Picture this: elite athletes walking with such intensity they look like they’re fast-forwarding through a crowded shopping mall. That’s racewalking, and yes, it’s an official Olympic sport.

The Rules Are No Joke

Racewalking isn’t just about walking really fast. There are strict rules:
- One foot must always be in contact with the ground.
- The leading leg must be straightened from the moment of ground contact until it passes under the body.

Break these rules too often, and you're disqualified. Judges actually patrol the course to spot violations.

Events and Distances

The men and women compete in 20-kilometer races. Until 2021, men also competed in a 50-kilometer race—that’s over 31 miles of power-walking.

Crazy, right?

3. Trampoline Gymnastics — Not Just for Backyard Fun

You might associate trampolines with backyard fun or circus performances, but they’re also part of the Olympic Games.

What It Involves

In Olympic trampoline gymnastics, athletes perform mid-air acrobatics—twists, flips, spins—while bouncing on a professional trampoline. We're talking up to 8 meters (26 feet) in the air!

History

This sport made its Olympic debut in Sydney 2000 and has stuck around since. With its jaw-dropping visuals, it’s one of the more exciting “hidden” gems of the Games.

4. Modern Pentathlon — A One-Man Army

If there were a sport that could turn someone into an action hero, it’s the modern pentathlon.

Five Sports, One Athlete

This event combines:
- Fencing
- Swimming (200m freestyle)
- Equestrian show jumping
- Pistol shooting
- Cross-country running (3200m)

Sounds intense, right? It was designed to simulate the skills of a 19th-century soldier behind enemy lines.

Olympic History

Introduced in 1912, the modern pentathlon was created by the founder of the modern Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin. He believed it tested the "complete athlete."

Fun fact: Athletes used to switch horses 20 minutes before the event. Talk about flying blind!

5. Skeleton — Head-First Sledding, Anyone?

As terrifying as it is thrilling, skeleton is essentially luge’s daredevil cousin.

The Basics

In this winter Olympic sport, an athlete races down a frozen track face-first on a small sled. Speeds can reach over 80 mph. Yeah, it’s just as insane as it sounds.

Why It’s Called “Skeleton”

The name apparently comes from the skeleton-like appearance of the early sleds. Either that, or it foreshadows what could happen if things go wrong (kidding… kind of).

Olympic Journey

Skeleton was first introduced in 1928, disappeared for decades, and made a comeback in 2002. It’s now one of the most pulse-pounding events at the Winter Games.

6. Solo Synchronized Swimming — Wait, What?

We all know synchronized swimming (now known as artistic swimming) as a team sport. But would you believe there was once solo synchronized swimming?

The Paradox

How can one person be synchronized…with themselves? That’s exactly what the event featured — solo swimmers performing routines matched to music, maintaining rhythm, timing, and artistic expression.

Olympic Run

It was part of the Olympics in 1984, 1988, and 1992. Eventually, the event was dropped in favor of focusing on duets and teams — where actual synchronization makes more obvious sense.

Still, it was a unique showcase of creativity and performance.

7. Club Swinging — The Long-Lost Relative of Rhythmic Gymnastics

Club swinging might sound like something from a dance party, but it was actually a men's gymnastics event in the early 1900s.

The Event

Think of it as juggling meets martial arts. Athletes performed routines swinging weighted clubs—similar to bowling pins—around their heads and bodies in complex patterns.

A Very Brief History

Club swinging was only featured in the 1904 and 1932 Games. While it didn’t stick around, it paved the way for other artistic gymnastic disciplines.

Who knew twirling giant pins could be Olympic-worthy?

8. Roque — The Most American Olympic Sport You’ve Never Heard Of

Ever heard of roque? Probably not. It was basically the American version of croquet—and it actually made a single Olympic appearance.

1904: Roque’s Moment to Shine

In the St. Louis Games of 1904, roque was included. But here's the kicker: all the athletes were American. International participation? Not so much.

Why It Disappeared

With nearly zero global interest, it was quickly retired. Today, even croquet isn’t an Olympic sport anymore. Roque ended up being more of a patriotic footnote than a lasting sport.

9. Basque Pelota — The World’s Fastest Ball Game

Imagine a mix of handball, squash, and racquetball—played at breakneck speed. That’s Basque pelota.

Olympic Spot

Basque pelota was featured once, during the 1900 Paris Olympics. Since then, it's only popped up as a demonstration sport.

Fun Fact

The ball used in some versions can travel over 180 mph, making it arguably the fastest ball sport on Earth. That’s faster than a baseball pitch or tennis serve!

So why didn’t it catch on? Mostly due to regional popularity—it’s big in parts of Spain and France but not globally widespread.

10. Gliding — Flying Without an Engine

This one's for the aviation nerds. Gliding, also known as sailplaning, was set to debut in the 1940 Games…which were unfortunately canceled due to WWII.

What Could've Been

Pilots would have competed in precision and distance flying using engine-less aircraft. Talk about high-stakes drifting in the sky.

Though it never took off (pun intended) as an Olympic event, gliding remains a recognized sport by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.

11. Live Pigeon Shooting — The Dark Past

Not all Olympic sports aged gracefully. One of the most controversial was live pigeon shooting at the 1900 Paris Games.

What Happened

Competitors aimed to shoot down as many live pigeons as possible. It’s estimated over 300 birds were killed. Needless to say, it caused public outrage.

Backlash and Ban

It was the first—and last—time live animals were used as targets in Olympic competition. Clay pigeons replaced the real ones soon after.

Yikes.

12. Underwater Swimming — Hide-and-Seek, But Olympic

This one’s a total head-scratcher.

The Event

Underwater swimming was featured only once in the 1900 Olympics. The goal? Swim as far as possible underwater—measured by time and distance.

Why It Failed

The spectators couldn’t actually see what was happening underwater. Not exactly riveting TV (or even in-person) content. It never returned.

13. Polo — The Sport of Kings

Polo has long been known as an elite, aristocratic pastime. But did you know it was once contested at the Olympics?

Olympic Timeline

Polo appeared in five Olympic Games between 1900 and 1936. Teams from Argentina, England, and the U.S. often dominated.

Why It’s Gone

Logistics. The cost of transporting horses across continents, combined with low global participation, made polo a logistical nightmare.

Still, it had its royal moment in the Olympic arena.

Final Thoughts

The Olympics are more than just the headline events you see in prime time. Behind the glitz and glamor of events like sprinting and gymnastics lies a treasure trove of quirky, wild, and downright surprising competitions. From tug of war to trampoline, and even face-first sledding, the Games have always been a celebration of human creativity, endurance, and sometimes…just plain oddity.

So next time you’re watching the Olympic Games, take a moment to appreciate not just the stars—but the obscure events that make the Olympic spirit truly unforgettable.

Who knows—maybe you’ll even be inspired to pick up a club, hop on a trampoline, or power walk your way into your own Olympic dreams.