The Weirdest Olympic Sports

The Olympics weren’t always about being the fastest or the strongest. Here’s some of the other events that used to take place.

The Olympics weren’t always about being the fastest or the strongest. Here’s some of th... more

Curated byAdrian Sherling, Hark Editor

8 CLIPS20 MINS

Clip 1 of 8

Skeleton: Headfirst Down an Ice Tunnel on a Cookie Sheet

Skeleton is one of the most frightening sports in the Olympics, where contestants go head-first down a bobsleigh run on a cookie sheet. Silver medalist Noelle Pikus Pace takes us through what it feels like.

Skeleton: Headfirst Down an Ice Tunnel on a Cookie Sheet

All In

3 MINS

Clip 2 of 8

Curling: The 16th Century Scottish Sport Still Going Strong

How has a sport which involves rocks and brooms survived into one of the key sports in the Winter Olympics? American gold medalist John Schuster takes you through the sport.

Curling: The 16th Century Scottish Sport Still Going Strong

The Podium

3 MINS

Clip 3 of 8

The Winner Who Was Dead

The Ancient Olympics, which started in 776 BC, were even more strange than the early modern Olympics. Professor Michael Scott tells the story of the winner who was crowed despite being dead.

You're Dead to Me

1 MIN

Clip 4 of 8

The Bizarre 1900 Olympics

Swimming obstacle course, dangerous throwing events… the 1900 Olympics were very different to what we know today.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

2 MINS

Clip 5 of 8

Town Planning Was an Olympic Event

Medals used to be awarded for town planning. And once the stadium the Olympics took place in won the gold medal itself.

Skylines, the CityMetric podcast

2 MINS

Clip 6 of 8

Olympic Medals in Art & Literature

The Olympics didn’t just used to be sport - there were also lots of medals given out for artistic pursuits like painting and composing.

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

3 MINS

Clip 7 of 8

The Disorganized Olympic Tug of War

The winners of the 1900 Tug of War gold medal was a team made up of Scandinavian athletes… and a journalist.

Dilettante Ball

2 MINS

Clip 8 of 8

Who Wouldn't Want to Watch Ski Ballet?

Ski ballet was a demonstration event at the Olympics as recently as 1992. And 'Brain Junk' wants it back.

Brain Junk

1 MIN

Curated byAdrian Sherling

8 CLIPS20 MINS

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The Weirdest Olympic Sports

Skeleton: Headfirst Down an Ice Tunnel on a Cookie Sheet

All In

Curling: The 16th Century Scottish Sport Still Going Strong

The Podium

The Winner Who Was Dead

You're Dead to Me

The Bizarre 1900 Olympics

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Town Planning Was an Olympic Event

Skylines, the CityMetric podcast

Olympic Medals in Art & Literature

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

The Disorganized Olympic Tug of War

Dilettante Ball

Who Wouldn't Want to Watch Ski Ballet?

Brain Junk

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