From the multifaceted nature of the modern pentathlon or the rhythmic battle of breakdancing, the 2024 Paris Olympics showcased 11 niche sports that the mainstream media often overlooks. Although widely-known sports like basketball or gymnastics attract many viewers, these lesser-known events bring a new dimension to the Games by showcasing a broader range of athletic talent. As someone who followed 25 out of the 32 Olympic sports this year and participates in a niche sport, pistol shooting, I present my ranking of the top five niche Olympic sports based on their entertainment levels. 

5. Race Walking 

While race walking does not come to mind as a thrilling sport, it has its own appeal. Considering the long distances athletes have to walk, 20 and 50 km, the physical endurance required are quite impressive. The strategy involved in pacing and maintaining form can be intriguing to those who appreciate the subtleties of athletic performance. The lack of immediate excitement in race walking when compared to some of the other sports on this list makes it a lot more niche in its appeal.

4. Modern Pentathlon

The most unique of all Olympic events, the modern pentathlon is a dynamic sport that combines five distinct disciplines: fencing, swimming, equestrian jumping, pistol shooting and cross-country running. With five sports packed into one, there’s always something interesting to keep the audience engaged. The disjointed nature of the events makes it harder to follow or sustain excitement than centered sports. Still, variety makes it an intriguing sport to watch, especially if you appreciate holistic athleticism.

3. BMX  

Right in the middle of my list is bicycle motocross. Whether it’s racing or freestyle, BMX is packed with adrenaline. When riders race, they navigate a dirt track at breakneck speeds, take sharp turns and launch their bikes into the air over sand dunes, differentiating the sport from mundane cycling. In freestyle BMX, the creativity and daring nature of the tricks performed kept me on the edge of my seat. However, the intense action brought severe injuries like the numerous falls and crashes throughout all the BMX events, ultimately breaking my concentration on the race or freestyle. 

2. Artistic Swimming 

Watching the artistic swimmers move in perfect harmony and create intricate formations has the ability to mesmerize anyone. The sport’s combination of artistic talent and athleticism overlaps with other Olympic events like figure skating or breakdancing, but the swimmer’s impressive ability to hold their breath while executing such complex yet sharp movements in perfect unison left me in awe. One con that lowered artistic swimming from first place is the repetition within routines when compared to the variety seen in breaking. Many teams tend to have similar patterns and tricks, so the routines become mundane after watching a few.

1. Breaking

Making its debut in Paris this year, breaking, also known as breakdancing, brought a fresh, urban vibe to the Games. As someone who enjoys dancing and watching dance battles, I was amazed to see a representation of dance at the Olympics despite the ongoing debate of dance’s status as a sport or an art. Although the audience was not cheering as much as a normal dance battle crowd would, the exciting and intense energy in the arena was palpable through the screen as the dancers fused acrobatics with freestyle.