Lesser-Known Olympic Sports at Summer Olympian

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Épée fencing Which Olympic sports are the most esoteric, least mainstream? Here’s a link to the list of all the sporting events at the Beijing games. If I had to explain each sport to the casual Olympic fan, I think I could at least fake an explanation for most of the 41 events. Four of them, however, top my list of the most esoteric Olympic sports:

Equestrian—Dressage
I know this event has something to do with people riding horses, but that’s all I could tell you. Let’s find a better explanation than my sorry excuse for one. According to Wikipedia:

Dressage (a French term meaning “training") is a path and destination of competitive horse training, with competitions held at all levels from amateur to the Olympics. Its fundamental purpose is to develop, through standardized progressive training methods, a horse’s natural athletic ability and willingness to perform, thereby maximizing its potential as a riding horse. At the peak of a dressage horse’s gymnastic development, it can smoothly respond to a skilled rider’s minimal aids by performing the requested movement while remaining relaxed and appearing effortless. Dressage is occasionally referred to as “Horse Ballet” (cf. nl:Dressuur). Although the discipline has ancient roots, dressage was first recognized as an important equestrian pursuit in the West during the Renaissance. The great European riding masters of that period developed a sequential training system that has changed little since then and classical dressage is still considered the basis of trained modern dressage.

Equestrian—Eventing
Ditto here. Horses being ridden by very slim people. That’s all I know. Not exactly. The Wikipedia definition states that:

Eventing is an equestrian event which comprises dressage, cross-country and show-jumping. This event has its roots as a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding. It has two main formats, the one day event (ODE) and the three day event (3DE). It has previously been known as Militaire, Horse Trials, and Combined Training.

Wrestling—Greco-Roman
I’ve at least watched this sport before. I have to say I couldn’t begin to tell you how it’s any different from freestyle wrestling. Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about Greco-Roman Wrestling:

Colloquially referred to simply as Greco, this style of wrestling forbids attacks below the waist. As a result, throws are encouraged as the Greco-Roman wrestler cannot avoid being thrown by simply hooking or grabbing his opponent’s leg. Otherwise, the sport is similar to freestyle.

Modern Pentathlon
This one involves five events, I know that much. What events? Let’s see: running, shooting, horseback riding, uhh… bowling? No? Arm-wrestling? I give up.

According to modern-pentathlon.com, the five events in the modern pentathlon are:

pistol shooting, épée fencing, swimming, riding (equestrian show jumping) and cross-country running. The total points scored in the first four events determine the starting order for the final event, turning the cross-country running into a handicap event. The leading competitor sets off first and the intervals between that competitor and those who follow is determined by the points difference between them. Because of this handicapping system, the first three competitors to cross the line at the end of the run fill the gold, silver and bronze medal positions.

I was still kind of fuzzy on one of the five events in the modern pentathlon: épée fencing. According to Wikipedia, “the épée (’ep.eɪ) is the modern derivative of the original duelling sword, the rapier, used in sport fencing. Épée is French for ‘sword’… While modern sport fencing has three weapons (foil, épée, and sabre), each a separate event, épée is the only one in which the entire body is the valid target area. Épée is the heaviest of all three weapons.”

What do you know? I’ll bet I’m not the only one who didn’t know that! Maybe I should have added fencing to my list. I would have said it’s guys in funny white suits with wire mesh masks trying to stab each other with swords.

So there you go. Hopefully we both learned something today. If not, then at least let me say that I have an excuse. The Olympic sport I love best (track & field) is the most popular Olympic sport. I’ve not had to work very hard or go out of my way to see some coverage of it on TV. At least not during the Olympics, anyway. To all of you aficionados of the aforementioned sports, I resolve to learn more about them.

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Wrestling is split into Greco-Roman and Freestyle disciplines. In Greco-Roman wrestling competitors are only allowed to use their arms and upper bodies to subdue and control their opponent and were only allowed to touch their opponent in the arms and upper bodies.
May 28, 2008 at 01:58 AM
Preethi said:

Very good article on Olympic Sports’ rare sports and games. It created an awareness about the less concentrated sports and games which has to be valued. Good posting!!!
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