Olympic Absurdity: 10 Bizarre Events in Games History

The Olympic Games have a rich history filled with extraordinary athletic feats, but hidden within this legacy are some truly bizarre and absurd events that have taken place over the years. While the motto of the Olympics is ‘Citius, altius, fortius’ (faster, higher, stronger), some events seem to defy this traditional notion of sportsmanship.

One such event that raises eyebrows is solo synchronised swimming, a paradoxical concept where the essence of synchronicity is lost in the solitary performance. The inclusion of horse long jump and horse high jump in the 1900 Paris Games adds another layer of peculiarity to the Olympic repertoire, blurring the lines between human and animal athleticism.

The 1904 St. Louis Olympics introduced the plunge for distance, a whimsical game where competitors aimed to glide underwater for as long as possible, reminiscent of a playful pastime rather than a serious sporting endeavor. Similarly, the 200m swimming obstacle race in Paris 1900 transformed the Seine into a challenging course involving climbing poles and navigating under boats, showcasing a blend of athleticism and absurdity.

In a more controversial light, the live pigeon shooting event in Paris 1900 stands out as a dark moment in Olympic history, where contestants vied to exterminate as many pigeons as possible, highlighting a stark contrast to the principles of modern sportsmanship and animal welfare.

The modern pentathlon, a multi-discipline event rooted in military traditions, continues to raise eyebrows with its seemingly disparate components of swimming, fencing, showjumping, running, and pistol shooting, creating a blend of ancient practices and modern sports.

Delving further into the realm of the unusual, the 1912 Stockholm Olympics featured pistol duelling, a non-lethal rendition where participants targeted mannequins adorned in frock coats, offering a glimpse into a bygone era of aristocratic pastimes.

The walking event, a seemingly straightforward race with a twist that forbids running, challenges athletes to maintain a peculiar gait under the scrutiny of judges, adding a layer of complexity and absurdity to a seemingly simple discipline.

Lastly, the test event of poodle clipping in Paris 1900 adds a touch of whimsy to the Olympic narrative, as competitors meticulously groomed poodles in a race against time, showcasing a blend of creativity and absurdity that ultimately did not secure a permanent place in Olympic history.

While the Olympics celebrate human excellence and athleticism, these peculiar events serve as a reminder of the diverse and sometimes eccentric nature of sporting competitions throughout history. As Tokyo 2020 unfolds, it is worth reflecting on these absurd moments that have colored the tapestry of Olympic history with moments of both brilliance and bewilderment.