What’s the Easiest (and hardest) Olympic Gold Medal to Win?

Sail Canada Olympics

Aug 9, 2016

“THAT’S so easy that I could do it,” is a phrase that will be repeated countless times around televisions airing the Olympics this month.

The short response is, “No, no it’s not.” The longer answer is a bit more complicated.

Every Olympic sport absolutely has a distinct degree of difficulty and because of that we decided to rank events to see which would actually be the easiest to win gold.

Photo: Sail Canada

Our criteria was simple: Imagine you are 21 (if you are 21, way to go, friend!) and have never played any Olympic sport. If you started training today, which sport would be the easiest in which to score a gold medal and which would be hardest, with all the other ones ranked in between. (If it’s a team sport, you can’t sit on the bench — you have to play.)

Before you get all upset about the ranking of your favourite sport, one caveat: there are about 1,000 medals up for grabs at the Summer Olympics and it’s next to impossible to win any of them. We’re simply trying to find which sports are less impossible than the others.

Sailing

Have you seen a pirate movie? Those guys don’t seem especially smart or athletic, yet there they are plundering and escaping into the horizon all because of boat savvy. If they can do it, learning to harness the power of wind and moving a few jigs and booms doesn’t seem all that tough. And if all else fails, just become best buds with sailing tycoon Larry Ellison and politely ask him to buy you a medal.

Other sports in the running for ‘easiest medal’ include:

Archery/Shooting
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Modern Pentathlon
Synchronised Swimming
Fencing
Field Hockey
Soccer
Diving
Trampoline
Rugby Sevens
Canoe/Kayaking
Handball
Badminton
Table Tennis
Rowing
Cycling
Track (Field Events)
Water Polo
Basketball
Volleyball

Read the full story from Fox Sports US here

 

Related Articles

Axopar 29

Axopar Celebrates a Decade of Adventure, and Launches Axopar 29 Range

Feb 8, 2024 Axopar boats are now seen in significant numbers in Canada with good reason. The Scandinavian dayboat ethos works for many boaters here as does the company’s “Adventure” positioning, which incorporates doing things as part of the boating experience. The Adventure Collection was launched at the Düsseldorf boot24 boat show last month. This collection…

Video Gallery

Jeanneau Yachts 55

Throw away the box, this is some fresh thinking

Seemingly part sailboat and part spaceship, the new Jeanneau Yachts 55 just busted through the boundaries of traditional yacht design. I couldn’t take my eyes off the bubble hardtop that met me at the dock and I stepped aboard with trepidation. A few hours later, I was planning how to spend my not-yet-won lottery winnings.

Read More

Destinations

Paving the Way to Cleaner Boating – How a Commitment to Reducing our Environmental Impact is Inspiring Cleaner Boating in Ontario

By Dave Rozycki

Over the past seven decades, Ontario’s marina industry has developed alongside some of Canada’s largest freshwater lakes. Boaters have been able to enjoy the beautiful scenery and create lasting memories on the water, with certain marinas dating back to the 1960s. As we reflect on this rich history, we can begin to see trends in how our footprint may have had an effect on the environment, in not-so-positive ways. However, by embracing innovative solutions and adopting sustainable practices, both marinas and boaters hold the key to preserving and enhancing the quality of our lakes and marine life for generations to come.

Read More

Lifestyle