# Backwards sports **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 20, 2001, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463 "2001-06-20T13:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fizzgog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a4c791/32.png) [@Fizzgog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fizzgog)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/1 "2001-06-20T13:16:00Z")
Apparently there are 4 sports that you win by going backwards.Rowing and tug-o-war are 2,anyone got any idea what the others are? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/2 "2001-06-20T13:20:39Z")
In golf, the lowest score wins. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/3 "2001-06-20T13:24:33Z")
Backstroke swimming? ---
**Author:** ![Fizzgog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a4c791/32.png) [@Fizzgog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fizzgog)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/4 "2001-06-20T13:29:26Z")
No i dont think that golf would count.I think you have to physically go bacwards.So you cant have darts either ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/5 "2001-06-20T13:35:59Z")
What about the high jump? Though technically not ‘required’, if I remember my Olympic coverage correctly, the technique needed to make it over the bar necessitates turning as you jump- and going over the bar backwards. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/6 "2001-06-20T13:44:51Z")
Platform diving. Again, not required, but a lot of boxers walk backwards around their opponents. Pole-vaulters run forwards but fall backwards. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/7 "2001-06-20T13:51:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rhythmdvl \* > What about the high jump? Though technically not ‘required’, if I remember my Olympic coverage correctly, the technique needed to make it over the bar necessitates turning as you jump- and going over the bar backwards. I think that’s the “Fosbury Flop,” written up nicely [here](http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=2656). ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/8 "2001-06-20T14:00:06Z")
For one member of the team, ballroom dancing. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/9 "2001-06-20T15:47:57Z")
The first time I heard this riddle, there were supposedly 3 sports you could win going backwards. The answers were supposed to be 1. The backstroke, in swimming. 2. Rowing 3. Tug-of-war. But afterward, people thought of several other events in which contestants can go backwards. The high jump, for instance, is almost always won by “floppers,” who go over the bar backwards. (I THINK most pole vaulters tend to go over the bar backwards, too… but I hardly follow track, and won’t vouch for that). Divers often jump off the board/platform backwards. And gymnasts regularly go backward in their routines. ---
**Author:** ![highlander\_km](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecc23a/32.png) [@highlander\_km](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/highlander_km)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/10 "2001-06-20T17:49:16Z")
Is repelling considered a sport? ---
**Author:** ![Ankh\_Too](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Ankh\_Too](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ankh_Too)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/11 "2001-06-20T20:51:26Z")
Actually, pole-vaulters go over the bar feet first, usually twisting so that they face the bar as they arc over. Once they cross (or hit) the bar, their motion leaves them falling towards the pit on their backs, so only the last part of the jump is considered going “backwards”. ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/12 "2001-06-20T21:54:49Z")
Half of all fencers are in retreat, pacing backwards. How about them? ---
**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/13 "2001-06-21T00:08:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Half of all fencers are in retreat, pacing backwards. I second this. Especially given that I don’t think I’ve ever won a bout while advancing. ---
**Author:** ![johnson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@johnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnson)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/14 "2001-06-21T01:11:25Z")
Some obviously consider “repelling” a sport, and I think most would consider “rappelling” a sport… ---
**Author:** ![Anniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cc9497/32.png) [@Anniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anniz)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-sports/69463/15 "2001-06-21T07:15:52Z")
What about dart? You start with 301 and the first that reach 0 wins.