12 Strangest Sports You’ve Never Heard Of

If you don’t like sports, maybe you just haven’t found the right one for you.

Curious about the weirdest games people actually play? These strange yet fascinating activities are ones you’ve probably never heard of but might just want to watch (or even join).

As a sports enthusiast who has been involved in everything from athletics to basketball, I’ve decided to research some of the most bizarre sports, and here are 12 that I’ve found.

Wife Carrying

Wife Carrying
Image Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Cortney Paxton, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Probably not the most romantic way I’d wish to spend my weekend. The wife-carrying sport, which originated in Finland, sees males running through a special obstacle track, conveniently dirty and muddy for the occasion, with their wife or female friend clinging on for dear life.

Men may carry their wives in a piggyback position (the nicer way) or in a fireman’s carry pose, or the wife could be completely upside-down with her legs over his neck and shoulders. I didn’t know I signed up for this when saying my vows.

Toe Wrestling

Toe wrestling.
Image Credit: BigToeWrestler, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

It’s actually like how it sounds. Instead of using your arms to wrestle, you are using your feet.

The Guardian spoke to Ben Woodroffe, the world champion and “toe-tal” destroyer, who admits to getting his big toenail surgically removed to gain a competitive advantage. He finally took up his crown after years of training and broken bones.

Camel Jumping

Camel Jumping
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

This sport takes the long jump to the next level. Originating in the desert of Yemen, this sport involves jumping over a group of camels that are standing horizontally without touching. There is a one-foot takeoff mound made of mud that players use to make the leap. The person who clears the most number of camels is the winner.

This sport is said to have been played since ancient times. Guess the desert does leave you feeling bored.

Blindfold Boxing

Image Credit: Harris & Ewing, photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Classified by some as “the craziest sport of all time,” this sport was reportedly a hit in England in the 1940s. Contestants entered the ring, four at a time, and swung wild punches, mostly at thin air because they couldn’t see. It was definitely a smash hit, but it didn’t quite make it to modern times. Wonder why.

Chess Boxing

Chess Boxing
Image Credit: WCBO, CC BY 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons.

A sport that combines boxing with speed chess is probably not something you’d ever thought to have existed in a million years, but it does. Players alternate between speed chess and boxing, with the goal of either winning by knockout or checkmate.

Chess boxing was first invented by French comic book artist Enki Bilal, which was later adapted as a performance art and then a competitive sport enjoyed by several countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and India.

Quidditch

UCLA vs Arkansas at the Quidditch World Cup.
Image Credit: BenHollandPhotography, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ve heard of quidditch, so this might be one you know. The sport has come alive from the pages of the world-famous fantasy series.

While there is no flying involved, the players still need to tuck their brooms between their legs. There’s also the “golden Snitch,” a person who wears yellow and runs around the pitch away from the Seekers.

If you think this sport sounds like a made-up game not to take seriously, one player at the University of Rochester has words for you: “So to anyone who says it isn’t a sport… well, I would like to see them try their hand at it.”

Extreme Ironing

Extreme Ironing.
Image Credit: Theredrocket at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Looking for ways to get a kick out of ironing? Well, this could just be it. Extreme ironing, as defined by the official Facebook page, “combines the thrill of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt.”

The idea is that participants carry their iron boards to inhospitable — and usually dangerous — locations and iron their clothes. Participants are judged on how well they iron their clothes by a panel, too.

Cheese Rolling

Cheese rolling.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Hmm, boy. I love cheese, but maybe not this much. This English sport involves rolling a nine-pound wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down a hill that can reach speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. The participants run and usually end up falling down the hill in order to catch it.

Shin Kicking

Shin Kicking
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

The aim of shin kicking is to kick the opponent's shins until they weaken enough that you can throw them to the ground.

Straw is used to pad the shins, which may help with the blows to some degree. Years ago, participants even wore steel toe caps for competitive advantage, which sounds pretty painful.

Underwater Hockey

Underwater hockey.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

With a fancy name like Octopush, why wouldn’t you want to give underwater hockey a go?

You have to swim right down to push or move the puck with the stick, all while sporting your underwater equipment, including your snorkel, mask, and fins. With teams of six players, this sport can get competitive, but it has a low impact on the joints.

Shovel Racing

Image Credit: Lynn Eubank, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Described as “extreme sledding,” this sport involves people racing down ski resorts with nothing more than a shovel, with its handlebar between their legs.

The original shovel racers were the lift operators at the ski resorts in New Mexico who had to get down after a busy day. These shovels, when used competitively, could reach speeds of about 80 miles per hour. Do not try this at home, kids.

Hurling

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

I couldn’t finish this list without mentioning my favorite sport. It might not be the strangest on this list, but it is one of the oldest sports of all time, with its first literary reference dating back to 1272 BC.

Hurling is an Irish sport that is played with a wooden stick — that’s right, a plank of ash from the tree — and used to pick up, dribble, and, of course, hit the small yet hard hurling ball.

It’s played in teams, and at first glance, it appears similar to hockey. I might be biased, but it’s even better. This super fast-paced game relies on skill and strength and the ability to react fast and move quickly.

Author: Caitriona Maria

Caitriona Maria is an accomplished writer, editor, and the founder of TPR Teaching. Her passion for education and entertainment shines through in her content, which inspires and empowers individuals of all ages.

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