Curling
Clean! The most mainstream of the more unusual Winter Olympics sports, curling involves players sliding stones on a sheet of ice toward a target area that is segmented into four concentric circles. 2022 marks the eighth Olympic appearance for curling, which has largely been dominated by Canada since its debut.
Trampoline
Likely one of your favorite activities to do at your rich friend's house when you were younger has actually been a sport during the summer games since 2000.
Steeplechase
Making its debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics, the sport originates from an equine event in 18th-century Ireland, during which riders would race from town to town using church steeples. Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco and Peruth Chemutai of Uganda took home the gold medals in Tokyo last year.
Biathlon
This winter sport combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting and we do not think enough attention is paid to this race, which first made its debut in 1960.
Croquet
How very...unfortunate for the Heathers that their leisure activity of choice hasn't been played at the Olympics in over 100 years.
Korfball
Similar to basketball, korfball was only played at the 1920 and 1928 games.
Rollerblade Hockey
Though it appeared just once as a demonstration sport at the 1992 Olympics, there are online petitions for inline hockey to be considered for inclusion by the IOC in future games.
Water Skiing
This summer activity has only appeared once as a demonstration sport at the 1972 Games in Munich.
Hurling
The United States took home the gold the only time this sport, an Irish stick game similar to lacrosse, was played in 1904.
Skijoring
The Scandinavian sport involves athletes wearing skis and clutching reins attached to a wooden harness fitted onto one or more horses. Sadly, it only made one Olympic appearance at the 1928 Games in Switzerland.
American Football
Yes, Tom Brady could have been an Olympian.
Unfortunately, American football just didn't catch on at the global level when it was featured as a demonstration sport in 1904 and 1932. Talk about a fourth and downer.
Kaatsen
Only a demonstration sport at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, the Frisian handball game was never recognized officially by the IOC.
Surf Livesaving
While surfing didn't make its debut as an Olympic sport until last year in Tokyo, lifesaving was an unofficial sport at on the Summer Olympic Games program in 1900. It has never returned, though it is an official discipline at the World Games.
Ballooning
In partnership with the World's Fair, ballooning appeared just one time as an Olympic sport in Paris in 1900.
Tug of War
The iconic backyard and summer camp game was actually a team sport that appeared from 1900-20. Gone too soon if you ask us!
Glima
The Icelandic national style of folk wrestling only made one appearance as a demonstration sport at the 1912 games in Stockholm.