The Olympic Games are one of the biggest sporting events in the world, bringing together athletes from many countries. Each edition features a wide variety of sports, making it exciting for fans. If you’re wondering which sports to keep an eye on during the Olympics, here’s a list of the top 10 best Olympic sports that are not only thrilling to watch but also showcase incredible talent and dedication. Let’s dive into the action!
10. Handball
Watching Olympic handball is enjoyable, even if you’re not familiar with all the rules. If you’re an American who likes to cheer for the home team, handball might not be your sport. The U.S. has never won a medal in this event and didn’t even qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
However, don’t skip watching it just because of national pride. If you’re new to handball, you might find it confusing at first. Imagine a mix of indoor soccer and basketball, combined with elements from water polo and lacrosse that’s handball.
Elite players move their bodies in amazing ways to score goals. One player almost scored a spectacular goal during the 2016 Games, but it was ruled out due to a violation. This shows the exciting action you can expect in competitive handball.
In a handball game, the team that scores the most goals before time runs out wins. Focus on the thrilling moments, and save learning all the rules for next time.
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9. Wrestling, Taekwondo, and Judo
Combat sports like judo are perfect for the Olympics. Over the past two decades, these sports have changed a lot. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has become a well-known sports organization, and fighters like Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor are famous outside of mixed martial arts. Who knows, we might see MMA in the Olympics someday.
You might see future UFC stars competing in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Some American Olympians have gone on to have successful careers in the UFC. Rousey didn’t win gold but later became a huge draw for the UFC.
Olympic combat sports are similar to professional matches. Some are exciting, while others may not be as thrilling. The rules can be complicated for beginners, but commentators will help explain what’s happening.
You should also watch wrestling because it almost disappeared from the Olympics a few years ago. Wrestling has a long history in the Olympics, and it feels essential to the event, like baseball and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.“
8. Table Tennis
Table tennis is like the curling of the Summer Olympics. You might think, “I can do that!” because you’ve probably played it casually. But as Rodger Sherman from SB Nation pointed out, what most of us play is just ping pong—not serious table tennis.
Table tennis is easy to watch. You don’t need to know complicated rules. The game is simple: players hit a ball back and forth until one cannot return it. The first to reach a certain number of points wins.
Olympic table tennis is about speed. The ball moves quickly, and points are scored in seconds. A match might last an hour, but you won’t see all of it on TV due to ads and editing.
It’s also a game of spin, with top players using various spins that you might not notice while watching.
7. Team Volleyball
Team volleyball sums up the Olympics in one sport. Amazing athletes compete in a sport you usually don’t watch, but as you learn the rules, you’ll start rooting for your country. After the Olympics, you might forget about volleyball again.
A memorable match was between the U.S. and the Netherlands on August 8. They traded wins in the first two sets, and despite a strong rally from the U.S., they came back to win the final two sets for a great victory.
That match had all the excitement of team volleyball, with impressive plays and athletic skills. Unfortunately, not every match is that thrilling.
Chris Chase from Fox Sports highlighted another reason to love team volleyball: it’s unpredictable. Unlike sports where one team always wins, there’s a lot of competition. In the last six men’s Olympics, six different countries have won gold.
6. Men’s Basketball
The Olympic men’s basketball tournament is like a wrestling story. The U.S. team is like the top villain, often dominating weaker opponents. The early matches can be dull, especially for the U.S., but not all games are boring. For example, a match between Croatia and Spain came down to the wire.
The best part of the tournament is that it includes well-known NBA stars. Other countries like Australia and Spain also feature players from the NBA. Even though top players like LeBron James chose not to participate this year, men’s basketball will remain a highlight of the Olympics as long as NBA players compete.
5. Water Polo
Water polo may seem easy, but it’s quite tough. Players swim around, pass a ball, and try to score, all while avoiding opponents. Once you watch it, you’ll realize how exhausting it is to compete at that level.
Water polo is a classic Olympic sport. Most people only watch it during the Olympics and likely have never played in a recreational league.
Interestingly, water polo players can be quite aggressive. They might grab each other in ways that are unexpected. The sport combines elements of swimming, basketball, soccer, wrestling, and a bit of roughness.
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4. Women’s Soccer
The U.S. women’s national soccer team is expected to win gold at the 2016 Olympics. The men’s soccer tournament is often disappointing because it only allows under-23 players, with a few older players allowed. Many top players, like Lionel Messi, won’t be there.
The women’s tournament is much better because there are no age restrictions. Fans love to watch the U.S. women’s team because they usually win. If the team were less successful, our feelings about the tournament might be different.
The tournament features some of the best female players from around the world. Unlike the men’s leagues, which we follow closely, the Olympics and FIFA Women’s World Cup let us see these top athletes compete on big stages. The Olympics also wraps up in about two weeks, which is another plus.
3. Swimming
Americans love swimming, and it’s partly because our country often wins many medals. Some of the best American Olympians, like Michael Phelps, have become legends. Fans today may not remember a time when America didn’t dominate swimming events.
While some swimming events take a long time, they are still enjoyable to watch. Casual fans learned during the 2016 Olympics that there can be mental games involved in swimming competitions.
Feuds between swimmers can make events even more exciting. These rivalries could help swimming become even more popular in future Olympics.
2. Track
Track and field events are great because of their simplicity. Races are short, and someone always finishes first. Chris Chase from Fox Sports noted that the races are quick and often straightforward, with clear winners and losers.
The men’s 100-meter race is a highlight of the Olympics. Winning this race earns the title of “the fastest man on earth.” Usain Bolt became a global superstar by winning this race.
Track events are easy to enjoy, even if you don’t know the competitors’ names.
1. Gymnastics
Gymnastics offers excitement during the Olympics. Fans sometimes think they can compete in sports like baseball and football, but gymnastics is on a whole different level.
Olympic gymnasts seem like superheroes as they perform incredible feats. Viewers are captivated by their routines on the balance beam, pommel horse, and floor, often cheering in amazement.
American female gymnasts often become the biggest stars. Athletes like Mary Lou Retton and Simone Biles are well-known names. During the 2016 Olympics, ratings soared when the American women’s gymnastics team competed.
Gymnastics has everything viewers want: outstanding athletes, fascinating stories, and thrilling performances. Even though judges decide the outcomes, this doesn’t take away from the beauty of the sport.
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