For the most part, the Olympics are pretty cool. Athletes from around the world square off in pure competition to find out who is the fastest, the strongest and the best.
But, there are parts of the Olympics that are lame. Ice dancing, rhythmic gymnastics and curling come to mind.
Here are some other lame "sports" that, at one time, were actually Olympic events:
- Swimming Obstacle Race – In 1900, there was a swimming race that also featured a pole the swimmers had to climb up and down, a barrage of boats they had to climb over and another group of boats they had to swim beneath.
- Pelota – Another event from 1900, pelota was pretty much a competitive game of catch. The first guy who dropped the ball lost.
- Solo Synchronized Swimming – No joke. Between 1984 and 1992, you could have gotten an Olympic gold medal for being in perfect sync … with yourself.
- Plunge for Distance Diving − This event from the 1904 Games had two rules: 1) Jump off a platform and 2) go into the water as far as you can go without moving your arms or legs.
- Club swinging − This “sport” was held during the 1904 and 1932 Games. Like rhythmic gymnastics with bowling pins, club swinging featured athletes whirling clubs around their bodies in various patterns.
- Pistol dueling − In 1906 there was actually an Olympic sport where you shot at dummies dressed in fancy coats – with a bulls-eye embroidered on the chest.
- Underwater Swimming – The 1900 Olympics also featured a race where competitors swam underwater for time and distance. Without waterproof cameras, this event was especially boring for spectators.
