Top 5: Olympic sports to keep an eye on

I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m a complete sucker for the Olympics. It’s the one occasion where I get oddly patriotic for Canada. Ever since I was a kid I’ve loved witnessing the unique journeys of the athletes. They fight tooth and nail to do what they love against the best in the world. It’s truly heart-warming to see them achieve their dreams (and no, I don’t care how corny that sounds). Then, once the games begin, drama ensues. From shocking triumphs to soul-crushing losses, the Olympics are a riveting rollercoaster of emotions.

With a whopping 32 sports and 329 events at this year’s Olympics, it’s going to be impossible to catch every single one. But there’s some standout competitions that you definitely won’t want to miss.

5. Athletics (Track and Field)

It’s hard to ignore athletics during the Olympics. Part of that is due to the fact that there are so many events in athletics that you’ll probably be exposed to one at some point. However, it’s also just that great to watch. There are many short and intense events like the 100-metre, 200-metre, and 400-metre sprints, making them an easy yet gripping watch. It’s almost like the TikTok of Olympic events. On the flip side, there are longer, slow-burn events like the decathlon or race walk. Whatever your cup of tea is, athletics has something to offer you.

A notable athlete to keep an eye out for is Damian Warner, who won gold in the decathlon in Tokyo. And due to some recent injuries to front-runners from other countries, he is once again looking good to make the podium. Canada has a number of talented athletes that compete in athletics, so make sure you check some of them out!

4. Soccer/Football

As many of you may be aware, Canada is the reigning Olympic champion in women’s soccer since team made history in 2021 by securing Canada’s very first gold in the event. This time around, they’re looking to defend their title, but it won’t be easy. Several teams are capable of taking the gold, namely France, the United States (U.S.), and Spain (the reigning World Cup champions). 

Unfortunately, Canada’s Paris journey got off to a rough start with the drone-spying scandal. Many Canadian soccer fans are embarrassed by this situation but also hopeful that shedding light on this scandal will bring about some much-needed change in Canada’s soccer federation. Regardless, it will be fascinating to see how Canada’s team performs in light of these events.

So, whether you’re in it for the athletics or the greater implications in regards to sporting ethics, something exciting is undoubtedly going to come out of this tournament. Soccer is always a high-intensity, pride-on-the-line event.

3. Breakdancing

I’m always intrigued by which sports the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chooses to introduce to the Games. Breakdancing — more commonly known as breaking — is the sole sport making its Olympic debut in Paris. Breaking made its first appearance at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires and was reportedly a great success, garnering more viewers than some of the more established sports. The IOC hopes that the Games will draw more attention to this under-appreciated sport, and I agree! It’s always refreshing to see more avenues for different types of athletes opening up.

In terms of Team Canada, we have an incredibly talented breaker by the name of Philip Kim, who goes by Phil Wizard. He is one of the world’s best breakers, having won gold at the 2023 Pan American Games and is now positioned well to medal in Paris. It would be beyond exciting to see a Canadian on the first Olympic breakdancing podium so make sure to keep an eye on the breaking competitions!

2. Swimming

A new up-and-comer is on the horizon. At only 17, Summer McIntosh has the potential to break records this summer. Her biggest competition includes the renowned Ariarne Titmus from Australia and Katie Ledecky from the U.S., but she already won two medals so far.

The wonderful thing about swimming is that it has 16 events (for each men and women) so there will be many different events to watch and many different medals to be won. Penny Oleksiak holds the Canadian record for most medals in a single Games, but we’ll see if McIntosh can match that. You’ll definitely want to watch and find out!

1. Gymnastics

Arguably the biggest headline of the Tokyo Olympics was Simone Biles opting out of the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team Final due to a case of the twisties. Following Biles’ decision, she received a tsunami of hate guised as patriotism or criticism. Her choice to pull out of the competition also created space for conversation about mental health and how we treat athletes. 

I’ve loved watching the culture of gymnastics shift over the past few years into one that uplifts its athletes. Gymnasts were once expected to sacrifice their own physical safety for their country, but they don’t need to anymore. These changes have not only made gymnastics more enjoyable for the athletes, but also an infinitely more enjoyable sport to watch.

Greater themes of mental health aside, Paris has had some outstanding gymnastics performances. Biles’ return, Rebeca Andrade from Brazil, and several other top contenders have submitted new skills to be named in the Code of Points. Canada also notably qualified a Men’s Artistic Gymnastics team for the first time since 2008, which could hopefully draw more attention to the sport in Canada.