# What Olympic events could men and women compete together in? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 28, 2012, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664 "2012-07-28T11:00:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/21 "2012-07-28T23:53:23Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [10m air pistol records.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_metre_air_pistol) > Men:695.1 Women: 493.5 > > [10m air rifle records](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_metre_air_rifle#Current_world_records) > Men:703.8 Women:505.6 > > [50m rifle(.22LR) three position](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50_metre_rifle_three_positions#Current_world_records) > Men:1287.9 Women: 698.0 Per wiki for the 50m rifle article: “The competition is won by the shooter who reachest the highest aggregate score (qualification + final, maximum 1309.0 for men, 709.0 for women).” So there is some difference in scoring between the two. Interestingly, the women win with the WR being 98.4% of maximum whereas the men’s is only 98.3%. So I think shooting is still in the running. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/22 "2012-07-28T23:53:35Z")
Curling? (No that kind) Olympic Curling. I really don’t see any inherent advantage a Y-chromosome has. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/23 "2012-07-29T00:00:14Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > Per wiki for the 50m rifle article: > “The competition is won by the shooter who reachest the highest aggregate score (qualification + final, maximum 1309.0 for men, 709.0 for women).” > > So there is some difference in scoring between the two. Interestingly, the women win with the WR being 98.4% of maximum whereas the men’s is only 98.3%. So I think shooting is still in the running. But the women have fewer shots so longer to rest between shots and the rifle is lighter. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/24 "2012-07-29T00:01:32Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > How did they determine the winner? Longest penis? ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/25 "2012-07-29T00:02:52Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Curling? (No that kind) > > Olympic Curling. I really don’t see any inherent advantage a Y-chromosome has. How hard you throw the rock does impact how it curls, as well as how well you can knock out guards and such. I’m not sure if that has any practical impact–I don’t know if throw speeds are within typical ranges for both sexes, but it might be possible. (see also previous discussions on competitive pool playing between men and women) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/26 "2012-07-29T00:02:59Z")
I would think fencing would be pretty evenly matched. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/27 "2012-07-29T00:03:22Z")
For 10m air rifle: " The maximum achievable aggregate score (qualification + final score) is 709 for men and 509 for women." Men= 99.27% of maximum Women = 99.33% For 10m Pistol: Men = 60+10 shots Women = 40+10 shots I believe it is a maximum 10 points for a perfect shot so 700 for men and 500 for women (It may be 10.9 but it isn’t easy to find online), but in pistol, men finally beat the women. Very interesting- I wouldn’t have guessed it. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/28 "2012-07-29T00:03:46Z")
I’d think that a guy could sweep faster and harder, plus he might be able to move the stones faster in curling. Doubt it’s much of an edge, if any. The tiebreaking procedure for three-position in the 1976 Games was to go back and see who had the highest total for the last ten shots. Bassham did, so he got the gold. Weird, I thought they’d go to "X"s to tie-break. This [SI article from 1976](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1091377/2/index.htm) goes into a lot of detail about the event. Makes me sad, how much the writing has slipped over the last 35 years. My vote is for Yachting. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/29 "2012-07-29T00:06:33Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > How did they determine the winner? According to [this Sports Illustrated article](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1091377/2/index.htm), > [@SI](#): > > The tie-breaking method is to compare scores for the last 10 shots. Murdock had 96 points, Bassham 98, so the victory was his. Basically, Bassham won because his victory was a dramatic come-from-behind. Certainly exciting, but a bizarre rule … Imagine putting that into other sports. “So, at the end of regulation, the score is tied at 101! But, since the Los Angeles Lakers scored 30 points in the fourth quarter, and the Boston Celtics only 28, the Lakers take game 7, and they’re the new NBA champions!” On the plus side, it beats the hell out of the current NHL regular-season tiebreak rules. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/30 "2012-07-29T00:10:07Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > For 10m air rifle: > " The maximum achievable aggregate score (qualification + final score) is 709 for men and 509 for women." Men= 99.27% of maximum Women = 99.33% > > For 10m Pistol: > Men = 60+10 shots > Women = 40+10 shots > I believe it is a maximum 10 points for a perfect shot so 700 for men and 500 for women (It may be 10.9 but it isn’t easy to find online), but in pistol, men finally beat the women… From this [link](http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2008/06/10-meter-pistol-shooting-part-4.html), at elite competitions like this, the first shots are scored to a max of 10. It’s the last 10 shots in the shootoff that go to 10.9. So max would be as you stated: 709 for the guys; 509 for the ladies. Really slick how they determine scoring—it’s done _acoustically_. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/31 "2012-07-29T00:10:10Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > But the women have fewer shots so longer to rest between shots and the rifle is lighter. 112.5 seconds per shot for women versus 105 seconds for men so you are correct for pistol and the other ones are similar are similar in magnitude, but in all cases women do have a longer shooting window. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/32 "2012-07-29T00:16:14Z")
Agreed with sailing, but only for small keelboat. This time around the Elliott 6m was chosen and it is a female only match race format. All of the other events are fleet sailing. There is too much hiking out and weight placement involved in small boat sailing for men and women to compete on equal terms. There will be a mixed multihull competition on Nacra 17’s at the 2016 games in Rio. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/33 "2012-07-29T03:39:26Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I would think fencing would be pretty evenly matched. Men have significantly faster reflexes. The physical differences aren’t just speed and strength. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/34 "2012-07-29T04:00:12Z")
Pairs figure skating. Potential Olympic ballroom dancing and dragon boating. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/35 "2012-07-29T04:01:53Z")
Yes ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/36 "2012-07-29T04:07:16Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > Yes [http://biae.clemson.edu/bpc/bp/Lab/110/reaction.htm#Gender](http://biae.clemson.edu/bpc/bp/Lab/110/reaction.htm#Gender) In case you still want it. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/37 "2012-07-29T05:01:09Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > I wonder why there are separate U.S. and World Chess Championships. In standard tournaments, the men usually outnumber the women significantly (due to interest, I guess) and the results would be skewed, but in the U.S. Championship and the World Championship, you have approximately an equal number of men and women. For instance, in this year’s U.S. Chess Championship, there were 12 men and 10 women. Why do the women not compete against the men for an overall title? It’s not football. Only one of the top rated 100 chess players in the world is a woman (and none of the top 100 bridge players). ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/38 "2012-07-29T07:18:52Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > Wow, I don’t know why I didn’t think of looking that up. Can you shed any light on why the records are so different? I find it hard to believe men could be inherently so much better, especially at the 50 metre level which is a huge difference. Perhaps it’s just down to fewer women shooting, but even if that’s the case I’m surprised. There is the fact that more men than women shoot which increases the pool of potential champions. There is the fact that men practice hand/eye coordination and spatial skills more than women. There is a possibility of biological statistical superiority. You can take all of that away though; the interest level among one gender, the practice, the possible biological superiority. It remains that in fields where you get to the top by focusing with extreme intensity, you tend to get men. For example, you would expect Scrabble to be dominated by women, right? Maybe at the casual level it is. Women have much more interest than men in language, practice language-related skills more and may have statistical biological superiority over men. So you’d expect most Scrabble champions to be women. Please read the names on this list: > **[World Scrabble Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Scrabble_Championship)** > > The World Scrabble Championship (WSC) is played to determine the world champion in competitive English-language Scrabble. It was held in every odd year from 1991 to 2013; from 2013 onwards, it became an annual event. > The most successful player in world championship history is Nigel Richards from New Zealand, who won a record five titles between 2007 and 2019. > Sponsorship of the World Scrabble Championship (WSC) formerly alternated between Hasbro and Mattel, the North American and global owner... ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/39 "2012-07-29T15:16:12Z")
The upper end of the respective ability bell curves see men being faster, stronger, better reflexes etc. etc. I wouldn’t be at all surprised in some cases to see the bottom ends of those curves being populated by men as well, it may even be that in some cases women have a higher average ability. Point being, medals are only awarded to those at the top end and that is why it is highly unlikely that women and men can ever compete equally at an elite level. Certainly not where there is an objective “best”. Subjective artistic judging may see some women do well. Equestrian may be the closest but even then, looking at past medallists, but as I said above, it is only in dressage (subjective judging) where women seem to win regularly, Eventing and showjumping seem to favour men. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664/40 "2012-07-29T15:43:08Z")
Finninsh wife carrying ([a vid from competition yesterday in Canada](http://youtu.be/kyIHpoLXOxQ)) has yet to become an Olympic sport. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-olympic-events-could-men-and-women-compete-together-in/629664.md?page=3)