Image Credit: Sergey Novikov
From high-speed thrills to surprising combinations of skills, these events might perk up your interest.
While many Summer Olympic sports are instantly recognisable, the Winter Games are full of surprises. Some events make you wonder how anyone even thought of them. Here are events that can surprise you in unexpected ways:
Biathlon
Few athletes possess the endurance for cross-country skiing and the precision required for rifle shooting, but Biathletes do both. Competitors race along a looped cross-country course and pause at firing ranges to shoot accurately, either lying down or standing, all while managing their heart rate and focus.
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Skeleton
A name that gives nothing away. Skeleton is one of the oldest Winter Olympic sports, and its name is thought to come from the sled’s “bare-bones” metal frame. The name also seems fitting for the spine-tingling thrill of racing headfirst, face down, at more than 81 mph down an icy track.
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Curling
Introducing one of the safest sports to try from the list: curling. Often a Winter Olympics favourite, curling is a team sport where players slide heavy stones across ice toward a target. While it sounds simple in writing, curling requires precision, strategic thinking, teamwork, and careful control of the stone’s speed and trajectory.
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Nordic Combined
Coming in as the second sport on our list that mixes two disciplines is Nordic Combined, a sport that blends ski jumping and cross-country skiing. Athletes take off with a jump, and how well they land sets the starting order for the cross-country race. It’s a mix of big air, strategy, and serious stamina.
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Key takeaway
While many of the winter sports above might not be the easiest to try, they’re incredible to watch from the comfort of your home. Seeing athletes combine strength, skill, and strategy reminds us of the dedication and talent it takes to perform at this level.
Your wellbeing, your way
The Winter Olympics remind us that consistency leads to greatness. While our daily wins may not be Olympic gold, every positive step toward better wellbeing deserves recognition. Start with WHEREFIT and discover the perks that fuel your performance.