You may think that sports like wrestling or gymnastics would probably have the highest injury rates at the Olympics. The findings of some research show this isn’t the case. Data was collected from the British Journal of Sports and processed by researchers. They compared the number of athletes in a division with reported injury rates. The research considers the Summer Olympics between Beijing in 2008 and Tokyo in 2020.
The top of the list – BMX cycling
With an injury rate of over 30%, BMX cycling is considered the most dangerous Olympic sport. Bicycle motocross riders perform in competitive and freestyle racing on streets or off-road tracks. The riders know the risks but believe that the rewards outweigh them. The discipline was added to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Eight riders come out of the starting gates and cycle down a steep ramp to a challenging course with straights, twists, and curves. Races may be short, but crashes are frequent, and injuries can be devastating.
Americans can now use legal online sportsbooks to gamble on many different games at the Olympics. Cam Wood, a 22-year-old racer from Montana, was America’s top hopeful at the Paris Olympics. He won his opening heat and advanced to the semi-finals. He made the field of the final eight riders and finished in fifth place.
Taekwondo and soccer
Taekwondo and soccer are next on the list. Taekwondo is a Korean martial art. Participants must use hand and foot techniques to control fights and keep the peace. It’s an ancient practice that helps to train the body and the mind. The actions are very dynamic and include many different foot skills. Almost 30% of athletes suffer injuries.
Soccer is considered the most dangerous team sport. Your sports strategy better be good as a soccer player or you’re likely to suffer more injuries than others. Injuries can include minor ones like sprains or more harmful injuries such as concussions or traumatic brain injury.
Mountain bike cycling
Over 22% of mountain bike cyclists suffer injuries. It is very popular as riders can get their heart rate up while exploring the beauty of nature. Injuries can range widely from scrapes to broken bones and even spinal injuries that cause paralysis. Managing a sports injury like a cut is obviously much easier than dealing with more difficult ones like paralysis. The sport involves high speed and riders encounter many obstacles. Some perils include equipment failure, dangerous body temperature levels, and environmental hazards.
Boxing and handball
Participants in boxing and handball report injuries at about roughly 18%. Boxing had the second-highest number of injuries at the Tokyo Olympics. It can cause injuries such as bruises, cuts, broken teeth, broken ribs, and damage to internal organs. Many boxers have traumatic head injuries over the course of their careers. Being hit in the head can cause damage to brain tissue and bone fractures. Damage to the eyes can include injuries to the retina and retinal detachment.
Handball is the second most dangerous team sport. This is a bit of a surprise as it comes ahead of hockey and athletics. It has always been a high-impact sport, but over the years, there has been an increase in speed, force, and intensity. Some of the injuries athletes can sustain when playing handball include sprained ankles, dislocated shoulders, jumper’s knee, back pain, and heel pain.
Safest sports
Some of the safest Olympic sports are canoeing/kayaking, shooting, rowing, archery, and swimming. It is quite ironic that sports using guns and arrows are some of the safest sports.
