When I was a kid I remember seeing a photo spread from the early modern Olympic Games (c. late 19th or early 20th centuries). I could swear that one of the events included barrel-jumping (athletes leaping headlong through a barrel with the end covers removed, *not * ice-skaters leaping over a row of barrels, Evel Knevel-style).
After an hour of Googling, I have not turned up any reference to this event on Olympic history websites. Was it part of another event, perhaps the Steeplechase? Was it just a demonstration sport, if they had them back then? Am I misremembering?
No offense there Elvis, but if you read my OP you’d see I specifically said I was not asking about jumping barrels on ice skates.
I too found the list of discontinued sports you posted. But I’m wondering if the barrel-jumping event was, say, one of the numerous track and field events. Then it would not show up as a discontinued sport since T&F is still part of the games.
Okay, I may be on to a lead here! I notice there was an sport called **Artistic Gymnastics ** in the earliest Modern Games. Was tumbling through barrels part of the gymnastic routine of the day?
Slim lead. The official name of the sport that Paul Hamm and Courtney Kupets compete in is still “Artistic Gymnastics”. See, for example, today’s results (scroll down), or the explanations here. Thie term merely distinguishes “regular” gymnastics from rhythmic gymnastics.
I am also struggling, the only reference I have is in the “Cronicles of the 20th Century” book where is mentions that in 1904 a new olympic sport of “The Barrel-Jumping”.
There is a photo of some guys jumping through what looks like a wine barrel. It basically looks like Barrels instead of Hurdles.
I have spent a good bit of time Googling and Binging but can find any reference. Surely more people should know about this weird and fun looking sport. It looks like great crack.
Googling 1904 barrel jumping gives this google books reference to Life Magazine.
Apparently the 1904 Olympics was run in conjunction with the 1904 Worlds Fair, lasted 5 months, and included a hundreds of wacky side show “Olympic Sports” including a barrel jump.
Edited to add, here’s the Wikipedia entry for the 1904 olympics, no mention of the barrel jump.