With the 2016 Summer Olympics just getting starting, you might be surprised to learn of some of the sports that are part of the game. While some are newcomers to the Olympic scene, many have been around for years. Their popularity tends to grow each time the games come around.
1. Field Hockey
A game played between two teams of eleven players that use hooked sticks to move a small, hard ball towards a goal at the opposite end of the field.
First Olympic appearance: 1908 London Olympic Games.
2016 USA athletes: Jill Witmer, Kelsey Kolojejchick, Melissa Gonzalez, Paige Selenski, Michelle Kasold, Alyssa Manley, Stefanie Fee, Rachel Dawson, Lauren Crandall, Katie Bam, Katie Reinprecht, Julia Reinprecht, Caitlin van Sickle, Jackie Briggs, Alesha Widdall, and Kathleen Sharkey.
2. Fencing
A sport in which two competitors battle with thin swords gaining points by touching the opponent with the sword.
First Olympic appearance: 1896 Athens Olympic Games.
2016 USA athletes: Dagmara Wozniak, Nzingha Prescod, Courtney Hurley, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Lee Kiefer, Alexander Massialas, Daryl Homer, Kelley Hurley, Eli Dershwitz, Miles Chamley-Watson, Katharine Holmes, Monica Aksamit, Katarzyna Trzopek, Gerek Meinhardt, Mariel Zagunis, Jason Pryor, and Race Imboden.
3. Golf
A game played outdoors in which players use special clubs, known as golf clubs, to hit a small ball in as few strokes as possible into a hole. The winner has the lowest score.
First Olympic appearance: 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
2016 USA athletes: Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed, Matt Kuchar, Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis, and Gerina Piller.
4. Judo
A sport similar to unarmed fighting intended to train the body and mind. Competitors use holds and leverage to take down their opponent.
First Olympic appearance: 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games.
2016 USA athletes: Kayla Harrison, Angelica Delgado, Marti Malloy, Nicholas Delpopolo, and Travis Stevens.
5. Table Tennis
A game played indoors with small paddles and a ball that is bounced on a table divided by a net. A smaller version of tennis more commonly known as "ping-pong."
First Olympic appearance: 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
2016 USA athletes: Lily Zhang, Yue Wu, Kanak Iha, Jiaqi Zheng, Timothy Wang, and Yijun Feng.
6. Triathlon
A competition that consists of three individual events: swimming, cycling, and long-distance running.
First Olympic appearance: 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
2016 USA athletes: Katie Zaferes, Joe Maloy, Ben Kanute, Gwen Jorgensen, and Greg Billington.
7. Water Polo
A game played in a pool between two teams of seven swimmers with a volleyball. The goal is to get the ball into the opponent’s net.
First Olympic appearance: 1896 Athens Olympic Games.
2016 USA athletes: Kk Clark, John Mann, Courtney Mathewson, Makenzie Fischer, Thomas Dunstan, Alex Obert, Alex Roelse, Sami Hill, Kiley Neushul, Melissa Seidemann, Luca Cupido, Benjamin Hallock, Merrill Moses, Alex Bowen, Maddie Musselman, Kaleigh Gilchrist, Kami Craig, Bret Bonanni, Aria Fischer, Ashleigh Johnson, Tony Azevedo, Jesse Smith, Maggie Steffens, McQuin Baron, and Joshua Samuels.
8. Weightlifting
A sport in which the competitors lift barbells or other heavy weights.
First Olympic appearance: 1896 Athens Olympic Games.
2016 USA athletes: Kendrick Farris, Jenny Arthur, Sarah Robles, Morghan King.
It was just announced that sport climbing, baseball, softball, surfing, skateboarding, and karate will join the Olympic Games for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Only four more years until we can watch those! For a complete list of when you can view each of these 2016 Olympic sports visit http://www.nbcolympics.com/tv-listings.
