The Paris Olympics are now behind us, but the memories we gained from watching the games remain fresh on our minds. Many of those memories of course involve the new sports that were introduced at the Olympics. While several new sports have been introduced to the Olympics in recent years, there are at least five that stand out above the rest. Here is a list of the five most interesting new sports that have been included in the Olympics in recent years.

Skateboarding

Skateboarding, introduced to the Olympics in 2021, is of course a sport that already has millions of fans around the world. The sport’s biggest supporters clearly happen to see that it’s now getting the spotlight at the Olympics.

Skateboarding became immensely popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, thanks in large part to legendary skater Tony Hawk, who showed off moves that were never seen before. Although the sport hasn’t been getting as much coverage in the media following Hawk’s era, the Olympics can now play a key role in bringing it back to the spotlight.

Breaking

Breaking was introduced to the Olympics in 2024 and gave fans everything they could ask for. The sport, not only brought some mesmerizing performances in Paris but also gave us some head-scratching viral moments that may never be forgotten. Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, who featured a kangaroo hop in her performance, went viral for her unconventional style. Meanwhile, Canada’s Philip Kim (B-Boy Phil Wizard) and Japan’s Ami Yuasa (B-Girl Ami) attracted new fans to the sport with their gold medal-winning skills, NBC Olympics reported. 

Surfing

Surfing is also another sport that has many fans around the world, but doesn’t get much media coverage. But the sport was introduced to the Olympics in 2021, per BuzzFeed. Still, while it was included in the Paris Olympics, the surfing competition was actually held far from the host city. According to NBC Olympics, the competition was held in Teahupo’o, Tahiti, about 10,000 miles away from Paris.

Golf

Golf is of course already one of the most popular sports in the world. The sport is loved by people of all ages who play regularly or watch it on TV throughout the year. Still, the sport was excluded from the Olympics for decades. According to Buzzfeed, golf was originally included in the 1900 and 1904 Olympics games. It didn’t come back to the games until 2016 in Rio.

Rugby

Rugby, a sport that is mostly popular in countries outside of the USA, became a part of the Olympics in 2016. The 2024 Olympics proved that the sport belongs in the games. On the men’s side, France put on a dazzling performance to take the gold medal. Rugby star Antoine Dupont took his popularity to yet another level as he led France to the championship. The women’s competition also produced some unforgettable moments. Although New Zealand took the gold, the American women also made a big impression on the world. American star Ilona Maher particularly emerged as a legend with her performance at the Olympics.

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