Lots of daily activities here in New York City these days feel like they can be Winter Olympic events. Getting to work in the morning? Speed skating or cross-country skiing. Waiting for the subway on an outdoor platform? Cold-weather endurance training. Carrying groceries on icy steps? Powerlifting with a high risk factor. Trying to open a frozen Citibike dock? Curling, but angrier.
By the time spring rolls around, everyone here deserves at least a bronze medal…or a very long nap.
It’s funny to think of these iconic Olympic events in relation to our action-packed lives here in the city. But at certain points in Olympic history, the competitions themselves were even stranger than our daily commutes. Long before snowboarding and breakdancing made their debuts, the Olympics featured events that now feel completely unhinged. From hot-air ballooning to tug-of-war, here are some of the wildest Olympic events that no longer exist.
Hot Air Ballooning (1900)
We’re starting this list off on a high note—literally, if it was done properly. Competitors were judged on distance, duration, and elevation. It was less of a sport per se and more like a very slow-motion escape attempt across the French countryside. The event was eventually dropped, probably because, frankly, it’s hard to build a stadium for something that just, well, drifts away.
Live Pigeon Shooting (1900)
As much as some New Yorkers grumble about our sometimes-airborne-city-mates when they take over the sidewalks, we can be grateful we’ve thankfully moved past the “gold medal for sidewalk pest control” phase of Olympic history. This was the only time animals were intentionally harmed in the Games. It was so shocking and unpopular that the event was immediately retired, rightfully so.
Painting and Sculpture (1912–1948)
For 36 years, you could win a gold medal for an art piece, from poems to statues. The catch? The work had to be inspired by sport. It was discontinued when it became clear that professional artists were competing against amateurs, which wasn’t exactly a fair fight.
Ski Ballet (1988–1992)
This one probably doesn’t require much explanation. A demonstration sport that was exactly what it sounds like: 80s neon spandex, dramatic spins, and flips on skis to the sound of synth-pop. Essentially, Figure Skating’s eccentric cousin.
Tug-of-War (1900–1920)
This wasn’t just for summer camp, or playing with your favorite furry friends, it was once an Olympic sport! Teams of athletes pulled with all their might, trying not to end up face-first in the mud. It was simple, intense, and surprisingly strategic: a test of strength, teamwork, and sheer stubbornness.
Solo Synchronized Swimming (1984–1992)
Yes, you read that right. The sport of being “in sync” with…yourself? While technically impressive, the irony of the sport was a bit too much to handle long-term.
Obstacle Course Swimming Race (1900)
In case literal Olympic-level swimming wasn’t enough, the 1900 games also had their competitors compete through a very unusual obstacle course. Athletes had to climb over poles, scramble under boats, and dodge who-knows-what floating in the Seine. Needless to say, it didn’t make a comeback—but it definitely deserves a gold medal for creativity.
Polo (1900–1936)
Polo galloped into the Olympics from 1900 to 1936. It was elegant, fast-paced, and occasionally terrifying, especially when horses and players collided mid-chase. Eventually, polo was dropped, mostly because it was expensive and logistically tricky, but we’ll always admire the sheer style points.
Honorable Mention: Poodle Clipping (1900)
There are widely circulated stories that this well-groomed activity was a trial event at the 1900 Paris Games, despite never making it to the actual events. It never returned, and we can hardly imagine why. Possibly because the poodles refused to sign the waiver?