Olympic Edition, Sports 12 Strange Discontinued Olympic Events
By:
By: CoachingLife • 4 years ago •
1
200M SWIMMING OBSTACLE RACE
Competitors had to climb over a pole, then scramble over a row of boats, then swim under another row of boats. Only ever held once, and Australian Frederick Lane won it, knowing that the stern was the best way to get over a boat. Last seen: 1900
2
PLUNGE FOR DISTANCE SWIMMING EVENT
Competitors made a standing dive, then had to remain motionless underwater for one minute, or until their heads broke the surface, whichever came first. Last seen: 1904
3
TUG OF WAR
Each team of 8 had to pull the other team 6 feet along in order to win. Controversy reigned in 1908 when the Liverpool Police team competed in “enormous shoes, so heavy, in fact, it was with great effort they could lift their feet from the ground”. Last seen: 1920
4
LIVE PIGEON SHOOTING
The first and only time live animals were killed on purpose in an Olympic event.
5
TWO-HANDED JAVELIN
Competitors did not throw with both hands together, but had to throw separately with left and right hands, and the combined score determined the winner. Last seen: 1912
6
ROPE CLIMB
As part of the Gymnastics program of the Olympics, competitors raced to the top of the rope in the shortest time possible. When it was first held, only two competitors reached the top of the rope! Last seen: 1932
7
UNDERWATER SWIMMING RACE
Competitors were awarded points for every metre travelled and every second they stayed underwater. Last seen: 1900
8
CROQUET
Only ever held once, and France won all the medals unsurprisingly due to the overwhelming amount of French competitors. It was not a success as only one spectator attended. Last seen: 1900
9
DUELLING PISTOL
Competitors shot at human silhouettes dressed in frock coats with a bull’s eye on the chest. Last seen: 1906
1
0
100M RUNNING DEER SHOOTING
Shooting at a deer-shaped target that made 10×75 foot runs. Sweden has been the most successful country in this event. Last seen: 1948
1
1
SOLO SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING
A single person swimming to music. All alone. Can this really still be called synchronised swimming? Last seen: 1992
1
2
ART COMPETITION
Medals given in 5 categories: Architecture, Literature, Music, Painting and Sculpture. Only one person has won a gold medal for both the art and sports competition – Walter Winans (Running Deer and Sculpture). Last seen: 1948
Share this article
Featured Articles
Put Your Oxygen Mask on First
Becoming an International Coach
By: Bill Sweetenham • 4 months ago • Here is my detailed outline for a developing…
Coaching in the Time of COVID-19
By: Maria Newport • 4 months ago • What they don’t Teach you in Coaching School…
One Question
Being a business coach is a dream job. The click you have with your coachee……...
COACHING BY NUMBERS
By: Sean Douglas • 2 years ago • Is data analytics the future of sports coaching?…
Are Coaches Educators or Trainers
By: • 2 years ago • Are Coaches Educators or Trainers As all coaches know this…
Put Your Oxygen Mask on First
Too often we hear of the accountant whose books don’t balance, the builder with an…
COVID VUCA!
HEALTHY THINKING IN A CRAZY WORLD In 1989 the Berlin Wall came tumbling down and…
Negotiation Skills: Art or Science
By: Margot Smith • 4 months ago • We learn how to negotiate from a very…
Trust, Purpose, Anxiety, Identity
By: Steve Barlow • 4 months ago • “It was my first day on the job….
A Wake Up Call for Business
By: Alan Ste • 4 months ago • Recently Bill Gates said that the one question…
Coaching Through COVID and Beyond
It happened so fast. One minute it seemed that I was gearing up for a…
Creating a Sense of Safety in Your Remote Conversations
I belong to a community that gathers online once a week to help each other…
COACHING THROUGH AN ADHD LENS
By: Michele Toner • 2 years ago • If you are working as a coach, there’s…
COACHING THE MUSICAL
By: Chérie Carter-Scott, Ph.D. MCC • 2 years ago • Coaching is a way of being….
Cancer Coaching
By: • 2 years ago • 1 in 2 Australian men and 1 in 3 Australian…
Career Snakes & Ladders
By: Margot Smith • 10 months ago • Careers can sometimes be like Snakes & Ladders….
Coaching Behind the Mask
By: • 1 year ago • Coaching Behind The Mask 7 Steps to Success By Steve…
COACHING 5 GENERATIONS
By: Marie Zimenoff • 1 year ago • How Career Coaching is Evolving to Serve 5…
Busyness Obsessions
By: Kasia Jamroz • 1 year ago • How to win a race without the finish…
COACHING THROUGH AN ADHD LENS
By: Michele Toner • 2 years ago • If you are working as a coach, there’s…