Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Bizzare Olympic Sporting Events

Good Morning, Afternoon, or Night,


Did you know that live pigeon shooting used to be an olympic event?

Piston dueling?

Art?

Yes, these unusual "sports" were included amongst all the other sports in the very early, early, Olympic games. Let me take you back in time---------------------------------------------------------

Tug of War

Although this game may seem foolish, it was obviously a serious sport to those back in the 1900s.

But hey, even if it was an Olympic event, the USA took full advantage of it sweeping all of the medals gold, silver, and bronze in the 1904 St. Louis games. Oh yeah.



Trampolining

Trampolining, included today in the London games is also a bizzare event. Flexible gymnasts perform stunning acrobatics on nothing other than a trampoline. China and Canada got gold in London last Sunday and Saturday.


London 2012 logo of the sport of Trampolining

Solo Synchronized Swimming


What? It may seem like a funny oxymoron, but like Trampolining and Tug of War, it was an Olympic sport during 1984, but was booted out in 1992.

Solo Synchronized swimming, which is awfully annoying to type, is very self explanatory. Just like synchronized swimming, it is a mix of swimming, dance and gymnastics in the water. (that sentence was taken straight from Wikipedia)

Here is a video from Solo Synchronized swimmming in Melbourne, Australia.


Baton Twirling

Just like gymnastics in the Olympics, except with a baton in your hand.

Club swinging first appeared at the 1904 St. Louis Olympics and involved athletes twirling clubs. Historians believe it was the precursor to rhythmic gymnastic events that use ribbons and hoops.

Many more from the list of unusual Olympic sports-

  • Handball (included in London 2012)
  • 10k Open Water Swim (included in Beijing 2008)
  • 3000m Steeplechase (started back in 1908, 3000m run with water as an obstacle to run through at different parts of the race)
  • Equestrian High and Long Jump (horses jumping)
  • Tandem Cycling (cycling with tandem bikes, the bike with two seats)
  • 200m swimming obstacle race (swimming 200m with obstacles to avoid)
And that is all. What sport would you compete in out of those from the list? COMMENT BELOW!!!


Love,

Luke

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