Power Ranking My Top 10 Olympic Events
The Olympics is an exemplar for athletics we only get to witness every four years. I think it’s important to stop and soak in this incredible 2-week event as it graces our television screens. World class athletes train their entire lives to compete in these games. To put this into statistics, roughly only 1 in 500,000 people compete in the Olympic games. I wish these athletes got their flowers more than once every four years, but I always choose to admire their unmatched skill and dedication when the games begin.
The 2024 Paris Olympics did not disappoint. We got to see stars cement their legacy like Lebron James, Steph Curry, Katie Ledecky, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. We also got to see Summer McIntosh and Leon Marchand kickstart what I hope are long and successful careers. There were record breaking performances and photo finishes that won’t soon be forgotten. From the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony, the Paris Olympics has kept people all around the world entertained.
Since it’s near-impossible to watch every event as it’s happening, I have listed my Top 10 can’t-miss Olympic events post-Paris. There are some events on this list that I’ve enjoyed since the first Olympic games I watched, as well as others that I got to enjoy for the first time this year. That’s the beauty of the Olympics, there’s really something out there for everyone. Enjoy my list below and see if you favorite Olympic event made the cut.
Basketball
This will not be a popular pick by me, but I have to stay true to myself. I am, and always have been, a total hoop-head. There is just something so special about watching the best players in the world play for their respected countries. Not to mention an incredible sense of pride when it comes to representing your country. We saw that this year as Nikola Jokic celebrated harder for Serbia’s bronze medal than he did when the Nuggets won the title in 2023. As an American, I love seeing the USA create a superteam once every four years. This year we witnessed the three best players of this generation, Steph Curry, Lebron James, and Kevin Durant, team up for the very first time. Watching them win gold was truly a special experience as each legend reaches the twilight of their respective careers. Another thing that makes basketball so exciting is the recent growth of basketball in other countries. It has truly become a global game and the Olympic competition will only continue to improve in the coming years.
2024 Paris Stars: Lebron James, Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama, and Guerschon Yabusele
Kayak/Canoe Shalom
I stumbled across this event on Day 1 of the Olympics. All I have is one word - electric! I had never seen nor heard of this sport before, but let assure you it is definitely one to watch. There are several variations of the sport and I am not entirely sure the differences, so forgive me if I misspeak. Both men and women compete in this white water rowing course. The athletes row their path to complete the course while also struggling to swim against the current at certain areas of the course. This sport reminded me why the Olympics are such a significant piece of the sporting ecosystem. The very first day of the Olympics I stumbled across this gem, and I have been obsessed ever since. Please look up the highlights of this event and you’ll be thanking me when you cue in during the 2028 Olympics.
2024 Paris Stars: Noemie Fox and Finn Butcher
Swimming
This is a sport that doesn’t try to be too complicated and it works. Most people know how to swim, but seeing the best of the best is always exciting. From the days of Michael Phelps, swimming has been a must-watch sport in the Olympics. The first week of the Olympics is highlighted by events that take place in the water. This year, the highlights included the Australia vs. United States medal count, Léon Marchand, and the incredible Katie Ledecky. The United States ultimately won the most medals and gold medals in the swimming event, but the Australians continue to close the gap. The incomparable Katie Ledecky won 4 medals (2 gold) and continued her dominance in the 1500m. Few things bring me more joy than watching Ledecky be the sole swimmer in the frame since everyone else is nearly a lap behind. The final highlight of the Swimming events was Léon Marchand winning 5 medals (4 gold and 1 bronze). While his performance was superb, the fact that Marchand dominated in his home country adds an extra layer of wonder. During the French anthem you could see how much it meant to Marchand. The Frenchman looks to be a threat in the pool for years to come. The next question is will an American be able to match his heroic performance in the 2028 games in Los Angeles.
2024 Paris Stars: Leon Marchand, Katie Ledecky, and Summer McIntosh
Track Events
There are countless track events but I wanted to lump them into one. Track brings together something even simpler than swimming as running around is something toddlers learn as they terrorize their parents. Not to mention that the title for World’s Fastest Man/Woman is an incredible honor. The headlining athlete is confident sprinter Noah Lyles who placed first in the 100m and third in the 200m. Love him or hate him, but the finish to the men’s 100m final was truly breathtaking. I know Lyles won but I’m still shocked every time I see that close finish. The United States dominated the track events winning over 3 times the medals as the next closest country. In past years, we’d seen Jamaica and Usain Bolt compete closer with the United States. However in 2024, much to the disappointment of competition, the United States were dominant on the track. As in every Olympics, some athletes leave disappointed with their performances. However, the United States team as a whole can leave Paris with pride knowing that the future of track runs through the USA.
2024 Paris Stars: Noah Lyles, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Grant Holloway
Gymnastics
Admittedly, I hadn’t really watched much of the Men’s gymnastics as the United States struggled to be competitive in recent years. In Paris, the boys from the US brought home a bronze medal and performed valiantly. We all knew Simone Biles was going to dominate with the help of her talented teammates. Seeing both men and women do all the twists and turns in midair and managing to land on their feet is incredible. To make things crazier, the judges are absolute sticklers and will deduct points for the smallest hop, leg separation, or minor movement. These athletes continue to defy gravity as well as push the boundaries of impossibility, eternally earning my deepest respects. I also want to give a big shoutout to both the Chinese and Japanese teams. They competed at a high level in both Men’s and Women’s and have a team comradery that is to be admired. For now, however, lets celebrate the greatness of Simone Biles as she continues to cement herself as one of the greatest Olympians in history.
2024 Paris Stars: Simone Biles, Rebeca Andrade, Suni Lee, Frederick Richard, and Stephen Nedoroscik
Javelin
Ahh yes, how can anyone not enjoy the ancient art of spear-throwing. In this sport we see muscular men and women run, take their preparative steps, launch the javelin, and then fall forward as the javelin soars through the air. While it seems unathletic to fall forward, the throwers do it to make sure they don’t stop their momentum while throwing. Their momentum carriers them forward and the athletes hit the ground just inches before the scratch line. Admittedly, I favor the Javelin because your boy threw the Jav a bit in high school. Was I a standout when I threw javelin? No, not at all. Please take it from me though, this sport is much more complex than meets the eye. It looks very meathead, just some big guys throwing spears, but the technique and steps behind it are very complicated. In these Olympics, we got to see a Pakistani man break the Olympic record with a throw of 92.97m. It’s a great sport to watch, but I also miss throwing the javelin myself. So if you start seeing sign ups for a recreational Javelin league, just know I’m behind it.
2024 Paris Stars: Arshad Nadeem and Haruka Kitaguchi
Beach Volleyball
This is a sport where my American bias really starts to seep in. I enjoy this sport because I grew up watching the United States Women’s team starring Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor dominate the Olympics. Don’t get me wrong, beach volleyball is a great sport. But it’s always more fun to watch when your country is winning. This time around, I got to pay attention to some of the intricacies of the sport. There is a ton of strategy, communication, and teamwork needed to make split second decisions. My experience with beach volleyball normally includes sunburns, diving in the sand for no reason, and ultimately ends with me chasing the ball around like a loose toddler. While neither team for the US medaled, the sport was a spectacle throughout. The results were Sweden winning gold for the men and Brazil winning gold for the women. I also want to shoutout former NBA player Chase Budinger for qualifying for the Olympics. Being a McDonald’s All-American out of high school, a first round draft pick, playing 7 years in the NBA, and then qualifying for the Olympics in another sport is quite the resume for Budinger. He has proven to be a world-class athlete and I hope Chase can qualify for the Olympics again in 2028.
2024 Paris Stars: Duda Lisboa, Ana Patricia Ramos, and Chase Budinger
Trampoline
Now this is a sport that is just plain fun to watch. The trampolinists go higher than 26 feet in the air when performing their sport. I honestly have no knowledge of the tricks they perform, but I am certainly mesmerized as they perform. We all jumped on trampolines as kids and had a blast, however, most of us would struggle to get 10 feet in the air and do a single flip. Now, imagine jumping over 25 feet in the air and doing several tricks with all sorts of twists and turns. I really want there to be a stat or example in the next Olympics comparing the performance of the Olympians to that of a normal person. Sorry for the lack of analysis on this sport, but it’s just one I enjoy watching every Olympics. The simplicity of jumping on a trampoline mixed in with the complexity of the tricks they perform is truly wonderful to view. Shoutout to Ivan Litvinovich of Belarus and Bryony Page of Great Britain for winning gold. I eagerly await the tricks they have in store for us in the future.
2024 Paris Stars: Ivan Litvinovich and Bryony Page
Water Polo
This is another sport that I just enjoy to watch without understanding any of the strategy that goes into the game plan. However, I think it is incredibly impressive that these athletes tread water for as long as they do. It is another example of how insane these world class athletes are. For the normal person it’s a battle to tread water for eight minutes, which is the length of Olympic water polo quarters. These Olympic athletes do it all while bumping into the opposing team, throwing a ball around, and swimming up and down the pool. The sport is a mix of swimming, soccer, and honestly a little bit of wrestling that puts the strength and conditioning of the athletes on full display. In the 2024 Olympics, the Serbian men won gold and Spain won gold for the women.
2024 Paris Stars: Serbian Men and Spanish Women
Table Tennis
Table Tennis, otherwise known as ping pong, is a sport that surprises many to see in the Olympics. If we’re being honest, it feels like it isn’t an Olympic sport. Many kids grow up playing ping pong in their friend’s basement and view it more as a leisurely activity rather than an elite sport. Don’t tell that to the Table Tennis athletes in the Olympics though. Those men and women dominate the table. The ball during an Olympic table tennis match flies back and forth across the table at what seems like lightspeed. This sport is dominated by the Chinese most years and 2024 was no different. There are 5 table tennis events in the Olympics and China won gold in all 5 and then won Silver in another one of those events. Admittedly, table tennis is not a sport that I can sit down and watch for hours, but it sure is enjoyable to watch for a little bit. I am definitely intrigued heading into the 2028 Olympics to see if any other countries can challenge China.
2024 Paris Stars: Chinese Table Tennis Team
Everyone will have a different list of their favorite Olympic sports to watch. Each person is entitled to their own opinion, all I care is that people are appreciating the Olympics for the spectacle that it is. Each event/sport has its own reasons to watch. This is why each and every Olympic athlete, whether they win gold or finish dead last, deserve to have their efforts and training recognized. I hope everyone enjoys this list and let me know which games I should have added or excluded.