Top 10 Weirdest Events In Olympic Games History - In Pics
The Olympics are celebrated for showcasing the pinnacle of human athleticism and endurance. However, throughout its storied history, the Games have also featured some truly bizarre and unconventional events. From solo synchronised swimming to live pigeon shooting, these oddities have left many spectators scratching their heads. In this listicle, we explore the 10 weirdest events in Olympic Games history, highlighting the quirky competitions that made us question what it really means to be an Olympian.
Solo Synchronised Swimming
![Solo Synchronised Swimming](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2024/08/21/1477958-weird.jpg?im=Resize=(400))
At the 1984 Olympics, the paradoxical event of solo synchronised swimming made its debut. Despite being "synchronised," competitors performed alone, synchronising only with themselves, which led to its eventual discontinuation.
Horse Long Jump and High Jump
![Horse Long Jump and High Jump](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2024/08/21/1477957-weird-1.jpg)
In the 1900 Paris Olympics, horses were tasked with long and high jumps, similar to human track events. The spectacle was short-lived, and these equestrian oddities have not returned since.
Plunge for Distance
![Plunge for Distance](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2024/08/21/1477956-weird-2.jpg)
This unusual event, featured in the 1904 St. Louis Olympics, involved diving into a pool and seeing how far you could glide underwater without surfacing. It tested more patience than athletic skill.
Live Pigeon Shooting
![Live Pigeon Shooting](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2024/08/21/1477955-weird-3.jpg)
The 1900 Paris Olympics also witnessed the controversial live pigeon shooting event, where competitors aimed to kill as many pigeons as possible. This disturbing event was quickly abandoned.
Poodle Clipping
![Poodle Clipping](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2024/08/21/1477954-weird-4.jpg)
Yes, you read that right. The 1900 Paris Olympics trialed poodle clipping, where participants had two hours to trim as many poodles as possible. Thankfully, it didn’t make the cut for future Games.
200m Swimming Obstacle Race
![200m Swimming Obstacle Race](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2024/08/21/1477953-weird-5.jpg)
In 1900, swimmers faced a 200m obstacle race in the Seine, climbing over and under boats while battling the current. This bizarre event never saw the Olympic light of day again.
Pistol Duelling
![Pistol Duelling](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2024/08/21/1477952-weird-6.jpg)
During the 1908 Stockholm Olympics, participants engaged in pistol duelling—thankfully, not with each other but with mannequins dressed in frock coats. It was a peculiar nod to old-world gentlemanly combat.
3,000m Steeplechase
![3,000m Steeplechase](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2024/08/21/1477951-weird-7.jpg)
Still an Olympic event today, the 3,000m steeplechase blends track and field with an obstacle course, including hurdles and a water jump. The mix makes it one of the sport's oddest endurance tests.
Modern Pentathlon
![Modern Pentathlon](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2024/08/21/1477950-weird-8.jpg)
The Modern Pentathlon, still contested today, is a quirky combination of swimming, fencing, show jumping, running, and pistol shooting—activities that supposedly mimic the skill set of a 19th-century cavalry officer.
Race Walking
![Race Walking](https://english.cdn.zeenews.com/sites/default/files/2024/08/21/1477949-weird-9.jpg)
Race walking, a longstanding Olympic event, requires athletes to keep one foot on the ground at all times, resulting in a unique, often comical, gait. It’s a challenging yet peculiar test of speed and technique.
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