These Events Are No Longer In The Olympic Games

There are 32 different sports at the Paris 2024 Olympics, combining for a total of 329 medal events. From athletics and breakdancing to volleyball and water polo, it’s a packed schedule of sports.

But what about some of the more unusual sports which we no longer see at the games? We’ve had a look back at the history of the Olympic Games to see the sports which have been left behind. 

CHARIOT RACING (AND A RACE IN ARMOUR)
This was the main event at the ancient Olympic Games held over 2,000 years ago, with a four-horse chariot race taking place around a large track. One thing you may not know about the the ancient Games is that every competitor took part naked, with one exception: there was a running race performed in full armour and helmet, carrying a shield! We’re not sure if we’d like to see any of this return to the modern Games…!

ONE HAND LIFT
Held in the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, this move is similar to a modern snatch lift, just with one hand. It used a long barbell and competitors had to lift it off the floor and above their head. The winning weight was 71kg. 

OBSTACLE SWIMMING & UNDERWATER SWIMMING
These both featured in the 1900 Games held in Paris, where all swimming events took place in the Seine. The obstacle swimming was a 200m swim which involved climbing over a row of boats, and then swimming under more boats.

There was also an underwater swim event which was scored as a combination of points achieved for both distance swum in a straight line from the start, and the time spent underwater. The winner swam 60m in 68 seconds. In 1904 a similar underwater swim took place and competitors had to push off and glide underwater without moving their arms or legs for 60 seconds, or until they came to the surface.

CROQUET
Three croquet events took place at the 1900 Paris Games, and it’s the only time croquet has been part of the Olympics. More significant is that three women were among the croquet competitors, making them some of the first official female Olympians. Apparently it wasn’t a hit with spectators as it’s reported that only one person turned up to watch. 

LIVE PIGEON SHOOTING (AND PIGEON RACING)
Another one at the 1900 Paris Games. The name tells you everything you need to know. Live birds were thankfully replaced by clays in future years. Also that year there were events in pigeon racing (which mercifully took part at different times!), featuring over 7,000 pigeons. These were both ‘demonstration’ events rather than officially recognised Olympic events – other demonstration events that year included angling, hot air ballooning and kite flying (what a year that was for one-off events!).

TUG OF WAR
This has featured in six Olympic Games between 1900 and 1920. Two teams of eight had five minutes to try and pull the other team forward by six feet. There was controversy in 1908 when a team from Liverpool took part wearing very big and very heavy shoes, making it hard for them to be tugged over!

ROPE CLIMBING
Another rope-based event, this time competitors had to climb up a rope in the fastest time. In 1896 the rope was 14m high, but in later Games (it’s been in five Games) the rope was 7m-8m.

100KM & 12-HOUR CYCLING
These gruelling long-distance races were held in 1896. The winner of the 12-hour ride cycled almost 300km.

TWO HAND THROWS
In 1912, there were events for two handed javelin, discuss and shot put. That didn’t mean throwing with two hands at once, and instead it involved throwing the implement with each hand and adding together the total distance. One for ambidextrous athletes! 

STANDING JUMPS
Today we see jumping events with long, fast run ups, but from 1900 and for a few Games after that, the jumpers all leapt from a static start in the long jump, triple jump and high jump. The USA’s Ray Ewry was a standing jump legend, holding records in all three events. His triple jump best of 10.58m is particularly impressive.

TEN PIN BOWLING
This has only featured once, in Seoul 1988.  

ROLLER HOCKEY
Think ice hockey on roller skates. It’s only been in the Olympics once and that was Barcelona 1992.

CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING
Now this is one we’d love to see come back! Cross country was part of the Olympics in 1912, 1920 and 1924, with individual and team events.

Would you like to see any of these events return to future Olympic Games?!