5 unique sports in the Olympic Games 2024

The 2024 Summer Olympics featured a diverse array of sports, some of which were as fascinating as they were unique. From the graceful synchrony of artistic swimming to the challenging endurance of race walking, these five lesser-known yet captivating Olympic sports stood out for their distinctiveness and intrigue.

1. SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING

Officially known as Artistic Swimming, this sport combines swimming, dance, and gymnastics. Synchronised swimming involves three routine performances for each team, spread over three days. The first routine features a series of five required movements, with judges scoring based on adherence to those movements. The second is the free routine, incorporating elements of choreography, interpretation, synchronisation, difficulty, and presentation. The final routine, known as the acrobatic routine, emphasises airborne and platform elements.

2. RACE WALKING

While track athletes sprint for gold, race walkers compete by walking swiftly. There are three race walks included in the Olympic sports programme: men’s 20km, women’s 20km, and marathon race walk mixed relay. The rules are simple: walkers must maintain contact with the ground and keep one leg straight until it passes under the body. Violating this rule, known as “lifting”, multiple times leads to penalties and could even result in automatic disqualification.

READ MORE: Ten big moments of the 2024 Olympics

3. DRESSAGE

As an equestrian sport, dressage is described by the International Equestrian Federation as “the highest expression of horse training where horse and riders are expected to perform from memory a series of predetermined movements.” Dressage is all about the rider working in harmony with their horse. At major championships like the Olympics, team competitors perform more challenging tests. They also perform a freestyle test to music, with choreographed routines showcasing the horse’s elegance and the rider’s skill.

4. MODERN PENTATHLON

The modern pentathlon is an Olympic multisport that comprises fencing, swimming, show jumping, pistol shooting, and running. It reflects skills that a 19th-century cavalry soldier would need. The modern pentathlon highlights physical fitness and historical skills. Participants must demonstrate sword fighting skills, swift swimming abilities, the ability to ride an unfamiliar horse, accurate marksmanship, and great agility.

5. STEEPLECHASE

Steeplechasers face 28 dry hurdles and seven water jumps throughout the race. Unlike sprint hurdlers, steeplechasers often run in a tight pack, making the race unpredictable. It can get messy rather quickly, and it is fairly common to fall in the steeplechase. After three dry barriers, racers face their first water jump in a pit with water over 19 inches deep. Most steeplechase athletes run without socks, and their racing shoes (called spikes) are skin-tight and lightweight, designed to cope with wet conditions.