10 Olympic Sports That Have Been Discontinued

Breaking and kayak cross are two new sports set to debut at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, while karate, baseball, and softball have been excluded this year. These aren’t the only sports to be removed: Over the years, the International Olympic Committee has eliminated several events, many of which haven’t returned. Here’s a look at 10 of them.

Tug of War

Unlike some other discontinued Olympic events, tug of war enjoyed a relatively long run, appearing in every Olympics from 1900 to 1920. Played much like the version you might recall from school days, it was also a source of numerous Olympic controversies.

The American team that won gold in 1904 claimed to represent the Milwaukee Athletic Club, but it was later revealed they were actually ringers from Chicago. Another scandal erupted at the 1908 Games when the U.S. team accused the British Liverpool Police team of wearing illegal cleats for better traction. After their protest was dismissed, the Americans withdrew in protest. Overall, British teams secured five medals compared to America’s three before the sport was discontinued after the 1920 Games.

Cricket

Cricket made its Olympic debut and exit at the 1900 Paris Games. Initially planned for the 1896 Olympics, the event was canceled due to insufficient participation. In 1900, Belgium and the Netherlands withdrew, leaving only a British touring team, the Devon and Somerset Wanderers, to face the French Athletic Club Union. Interestingly, neither team realized they were competing in the Olympics; they believed the match was part of the concurrent World’s Fair.

A contemporary report noted that the match took place in a cycling arena capable of seating 20,000, yet only a handful of soldiers attended. The British team emerged victorious, earning silver medals and miniature Eiffel Towers, while the French team received bronze.

Both teams returned home unaware they had participated in the Olympics. It wasn’t until 1912, when the IOC compiled official records, that they were recognized as gold and silver medalists in cricket. The sport has not been featured in the Olympics since.

Basque Pelota

The 1900 Paris Games featured several sports that made their only Olympic appearance, including Basque pelota. This ancient sport, resembling racquetball, involves teams of two using curved baskets to hurl a ball against a wall. It was included in the Olympic program for Paris.

However, similar to cricket, participation was limited, with only two teams competing. A Spanish duo, hailing from a region where the sport is highly popular, defeated a French pair in the lone Olympic Basque pelota match to secure the gold medals. The final score of this historic match remains unknown.

Croquet

Similar to cricket and Basque pelota, croquet was featured only at the 1900 Paris Games, a seemingly final destination for many sports. The French hosts capitalized on this opportunity, securing all seven medals awarded in the sport. While records are incomplete, it appears that nine out of the ten competitors across the three events were French, likely contributing to their overwhelming success.

Roque

Earn yourself 50 bonus points if you’re familiar with roque. This sport is a variation of croquet, played with short mallets on a hard, sand-covered court featuring walls for banking shots. Officially described as “the most scientific outdoor sport in existence,” roque didn’t fare well in the Olympics. It debuted at the 1904 St. Louis Games, where Americans claimed all the medals, and the sport vanished shortly after.

Jeu de Paume

Jeu de paume, also known as “real tennis,” is an early form of tennis initially played without racquets, using hands to strike the ball. By the 1908 London Games, the sport had advanced, incorporating small racquets, though it remained distinct from lawn tennis, which was also featured at the Olympics.

Jay Gould II, an American heir to a railroad fortune, secured the gold medal. Charles Sands, the 1900 golf gold medalist, also competed but was eliminated in the first round. “Real tennis” briefly returned as a demonstration sport in 1924 before disappearing from the Olympic stage.

Lacrosse

Despite lacrosse’s widespread popularity in English-speaking countries, it struggled to gain a foothold as an Olympic sport. It was featured in the 1904 and 1908 Games, with only five teams participating across both events, ensuring every team won a medal. Canada dominated, securing both gold medals and a bronze (they fielded two teams in 1904), while the U.S. and Britain claimed the silvers. Lacrosse appeared as a demonstration sport in 1928, 1932, and 1948 but never regained its medal status.

Rackets

If you haven’t already noticed, early Olympic hosts often added niche sports to boost their medal counts. The 1908 London Games’ rackets competition was no exception, with all participants being British. Similar to squash, which evolved from rackets in the 19th century, the sport remains popular in the UK. The all-British field of seven included John Jacob Astor V of the renowned Astor family, who won a gold in doubles and a bronze in singles.

Polo

Polo’s Olympic history was inconsistent, appearing sporadically during the first four decades of the modern Games. It was a medal event in 1900, 1908, 1920, 1924, and 1936. The British team was the only one to compete in all these Games, earning six medals, including three golds.

Water Motorsports

Motorboat racing debuted as a demonstration sport in the 1900 Olympics and achieved full medal status by 1908. Competitors in three classes were scheduled to complete five laps around an eight-nautical-mile course, marking the only motorized event in Olympic history. However, severe weather disrupted the races, with strong gales causing boats to flood, run aground, or experience engine failures. Only one boat finished in each class, resulting in gold medals being awarded exclusively. The British vessel Gyrinus triumphed in two of the races.