# Which Olympic event do you find the most impressive? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** olympic-sports-track\ **Created:** [July 22, 2021, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017 "2021-07-22T01:03:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/1 "2021-07-22T01:03:56Z")
It can be either summer or Winter Olympics. Use your own definition of impressive. For me, it’s either the rings or the 110 meter hurdles. Watching the rings just makes me hurt. Sprinting and then somehow levitating over a hurdle just looks physically impossible to me. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/2 "2021-07-22T02:39:09Z")
I’ll go with field hockey followed closely by water polo. They’re both sports rarely seen in the USA outside of the Olympics and yet so much fun to watch. There’s an incredible amount of athleticism in both sports. ---
**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 22, 2021, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/3 "2021-07-22T02:43:47Z")
I think any of the gymnastics events are the most impressive events. The most impressive athleticism I remember was Bolt’s WR 100m. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/4 "2021-07-22T03:20:41Z")
I don’t know about field hockey but the physical fitness and stamina of the polo players is just crazy. ---
**Author:** ![TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thegunismightierthanthepen/32/2981_2.png) [@TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheGunIsMightierThanThePen)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/5 "2021-07-22T03:21:59Z")
I remember getting a big kick out of watching a gymnast do airflares on the pommel horse in the 2008 Olympics, one of the few moments from that games that I still remember to this day. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Go_bbW1C2Zs/hqdefault.jpg "Alexander Artemev - 2008 Beijing Olympics - TF PH") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go_bbW1C2Zs) Later I learned that apparently the flares aren’t worth that many points, but still, it looked cool as hell. I also like watching diving defenses in badminton ([good example here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxMJI36_wbI&t=4534s)). I’ve tried doing it myself, but I just can’t get over the mental block that I will end up tearing all the ligaments in my knees, and my body refuses to comply with my mind. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/6 "2021-07-22T03:22:10Z")
Biathlon, in the WInter Games. To be able to sprint on cross-country skis, and then, be able to rapidly calm yourself to shoot accurately, is danged impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/7 "2021-07-22T03:37:09Z")
The high jump. It’s incomprehensible to me that any human being on the face of the earth can jump eight feet high. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/8 "2021-07-22T04:04:09Z")
The high jump is so different than “regular” jumping. I’ve often wondered what the standing vertical jump of those athletes would be. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/9 "2021-07-22T04:04:45Z")
Summer Target shooting. The range and accuracy is amazing. I relate strongly because I target shoot. I understand just how impressive these competitions are. > **[Tokyo 2020 Shooting - Olympic Results by Discipline](https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/tokyo-2020/results/shooting)** > > Official Shooting results from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Full list of gold, silver and bronze medallists as well as photos and videos of medal-winning moments. Winter - The biathlon requires skiing and then shooting from standing or prone position at 50m. .[How far do they shoot in biathlon? Distance of shot - Sports Illustrated](https://www.si.com/olympics/2018/02/15/how-far-shooting-distance-biathlon) ---
**Author:** ![steepone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@steepone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steepone)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/10 "2021-07-22T07:44:52Z")
For me it’s the marathon, the level of fitness and stamina, and the strength of will needed to complete it is just amazing to me ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/11 "2021-07-22T10:32:53Z")
Diving; the 10m Platform Dive in particular. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/12 "2021-07-22T11:40:46Z")
Rugby Sevens. 🕶 It’s played flat-out for seven minutes; demands every player to have skills of running, passing, tackling, kicking and planning - and needs well-rehearsed teamwork. [Top 10 Men’s Rugby 7s Tries at the Olympics | Top Moments - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhNlJ7XpHDw) ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/13 "2021-07-22T11:44:51Z")
I’ve been watching a documentary of the 1976 (Montreal) Olympics. They show highlights of just about every sport - not just the gold medallists - but the “average” athlete as well (e.g. who is lapped by everyone in the multi-km race, and gets a standing ovation when crossing the finish line). I’m taking a break now, but in part of it they follow the Hungarian team in the Modern Pentathlon through their various events - showing their ups and downs - a truly challenging series of events! I’ve never followed it before, and didn’t know much about it. Water polo would still be the most impressive for me, followed by volleyball (not the “beach” version). 6 a side. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/14 "2021-07-22T12:44:25Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I’ve often wondered what the standing vertical jump of those athletes would be. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/WVZ3ZcorTF0/hqdefault.jpg "Stefan Holm Hurdles Training") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVZ3ZcorTF0) Something like this. ---
**Author:** ![Ziberian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/919ad9/32.png) [@Ziberian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ziberian)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/15 "2021-07-22T12:57:35Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I relate strongly because I target shoot. I understand just how impressive these competitions are. I think this is a key factor in how impressive we find various events. I don’t doubt water polo is incredibly difficult, but since I’ve never tried it I can’t appreciate the difficulty. But I have tried ice skating & gymnastics, for example, so I can grasp just how hard it is to perform the routines. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/16 "2021-07-22T13:06:28Z")
My wife used to be a ~~synchronized~~ “artistic swimmer” and from what I know about it and what she’s told me, it’s _extremely_ difficult. Some of the things they do should be impossible. And unlike every other event, they have to do it with a smile the whole time. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/17 "2021-07-22T13:37:30Z")
I’ve been to the top of a ski jump and looked down it. The guys who do that are fucking insane! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/18 "2021-07-22T13:39:29Z")
> [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > The high jump. It’s incomprehensible to me that any human being on the face of the earth can jump eight feet high. Yes, but… no human being on the face of the Earth can jump eight feet high. They’re clearing an eight-foot bar, which is a different task. It’s such a different activity from anything other than itself that it’s hard for me to find it impressive. The long jump, on the other hand… We’ve all of us, I think, tried at some point or another to jump as far as we can. And the Olympic event is basically just that. But there’s no conceivable way you or I could come anywhere close to jumping 20 feet. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/19 "2021-07-22T14:43:17Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But there’s no conceivable way you or I could come anywhere close to jumping 20 feet. - Or over 29 feet, the current world record. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2021, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017/20 "2021-07-22T14:53:29Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > I think any of the gymnastics events are the most impressive events. Just watching Simone Biles on her own makes me marvel at how great the extent of human physical ability can be. Bouncy floors or no, being able to leap well over your own height and do multiple twists and flips in the air along the way is just mindblowing. Pity about her ankle. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-olympic-event-do-you-find-the-most-impressive/947017.md?page=2)