The Weirdest Sports in Olympic History

The 2024 Paris Olympics were the first-ever games to feature a breakdancing event. While fans of the dance sport, which originated on New York streets in the 1980s, were excited to see it recognised on the global Olympic stage, some traditionalists questioned its inclusion. Detractors called it a “mockery,” doubting whether breakdancing could even be considered a sport. What these critics perhaps didn’t realise was that the Olympics have a long and storied history of experimentation, embracing new and unusual sports ever since they were revived back in 1896. Here is a look back at some of the most bizarre sports to ever grace the Olympic stage.

A Balloon Race Straight Out of a Jules Verne Novel

On September 30, 1900, the sky above Paris became filled with gigantic, brightly coloured hot air balloons. The Olympic ballooning distance event had begun, with amateur aeronauts taking to the skies to see who could travel the farthest within 24 hours. As the day progressed, two titans of early aeronautics took the lead: Jacques Balsan and the French Count Henri de la Vaulx. Balsan made a good showing, travelling a staggering 759 miles to Danzig, Prussia, but the winner of the day was the Count. After battling strong winds and freezing temperatures, his balloon, the Centaure, beat Balsan by just 9 miles, setting down in Wloclawek, Russia (near Warsaw, Poland today). But his troubles didn’t end there: immediately upon landing, he was arrested by police after failing to submit a passport request with the Russian government. 

As thrilling as the event was, 1900 was the first and last time that ballooning was included in the Olympics.

A Blast from the Past: Pistol Dueling

In 1906, during an era when settling disputes with firearms was still within living memory, the Intercalated Olympic Games in Athens featured the macabre sport of pistol dueling. While traditionally the aim of dueling was to kill your opponent after a quick draw, the Olympic iteration of the sport did not have deadly consequences. Instead, competitors shot at dummies wearing gentlemanly frock coats. Those able to hit the bull’s eye on the dapper dummy’s chest were given points, and the sharpshooter able to get the most points was declared the winner. The dueling pistol event was featured again in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics but did not come back in 1920 after the games took a hiatus due to World War I.

Tug of War

For most of us, tug of war is a nostalgic game, reminiscent of childhood end-of-year sports days. Historically, however, tug of war was a highly revered sport used to train warriors in ancient China and Greece. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it featured in five concurrent Olympic games between 1900 and 1920. Here, teams of six to eight people used strength and teamwork to inch a central marker across a designated line, securing victory for the team with the most pulling power and strategic coordination.

The Short-Lived Spectacle of Taxi Car Racing

In the usually tranquil setting of the Bois de Vincennes on August 10, 1900, the air erupted with the sound of roaring engines and squealing tires. The cars making this racket weren't souped-up racing machines, but rather the workhorses of the Parisian streets – so-called “Hackney carriages” or taxis in modern parlance. This bizarre novelty event at the second-ever Olympic Games was one of 14 races all centered around different types of automobiles. Delivery vans, new-fangled electric cars, and trucks were also featured. Though motor racing never returned to the Olympics, these events did pave the way for motorsports to be recognized as a legitimate competitive pursuit.

Equestrian Vaulting: Acrobatics on Horseback

Originally a circus attraction, equestrian vaulting made its way to the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp. This strange yet fascinating sport, which still exists today, features a mixture of gymnastics, dance, and horseback riding. Competitors in 1920 were required to jump on a horse from a standing position, leap over two horses, and perform freestyle moves on horseback. The event was never held again, but there is a push within the equestrian vaulting community to bring it back to the Olympic stage.

The Evolution of Olympic Sports 

These unusual events, largely forgotten by history, are a testament to the ever-evolving nature of the Olympics. As the games continue to adapt and change, we are reminded that the definition of “Olympic Sport” is not static. From the beginning, the games have been not only a celebration of traditional athleticism but of human ingenuity, skill, and the pursuit of excellence in all its forms.