Advocating for Strength Sports to be recognized as Olympic Sports

 The topic I'd like to go over this week is why I believe that Powerlifting, Bodybuilding, and potentially sports such as Strongman (which includes more than just men, but based on the name not everyone might know that) and Crossfit should be recognized as Olympic Sports. Recently added sports include things like 3 on 3 half court basketball, which is similar to what we consider "recreational park basketball" and doesn't even have an official league, break dancing (which is more of an art than a sport, although it does require significant physical abilities), flag football (again a sport that does not even have an official league), and squash. I do not mean to degrade any of those activities, but the Olympics were supposed to be a major celebration of sport every 4 years, with sport implying physical activity. Currently, the only strength-related sport in the Olympics is Olympic Weightlifting, which is significantly different than other strength sports because athletes only complete 2 lifts (the snatch and the clean & jerk/press). 

Over the past 20+ years, strength sports have grown exponentially more popular. The most prestigious event in powerlifting (Sheffield 2025, a competition between champions from every weight class) drew nearly 400,000 views on YouTube. Powerlifting is governed by the International Powerlifting Federation and is subject to WADA drug testing just like other Olympic sports are. Many popular fitness influencers compete in the sport, from an amateur level (like Jeff Nippard and Will Tennyson) to the pro level (such as Russell Orhii), and would bring even more viewers to the Olympics. It's reasonable to believe they would draw more viewers than events such as 3 on 3 basketball and flag football. Powerlifting also showcases the strongest people in the world in a standardized manner based on weight classes and across 3 different lifts (the Back Squat, Bench-Press, and Deadlift).

In terms of the other strength sports, what likely holds back Strongman and Bodybuilding is frequent steroid use. However, if there was an incentive such as the Olympics that rewarded natural athletes who compete in those sports, we would likely see a massive amount of people enter those sports at the natural level. Strongman is massively popular and very entertaining to a broad crowd of people, with competitors such as Hafthor Bjornsson (4.3 million followers) and Eddie Hall (5.1 million followers) having massive followings on social media. You can say the same thing about bodybuilding, where the recently retired 5-time Men's Classic Physique Champion Chris Bumstead has 25.7 million followers. Clearly, the general population finds athletes pushing the human limits of strength and genetic potential entertaining, and those qualities fit goal of the Olympics (to celebrate sports and athleticism). They deserve the recognition they have earned, rather than being looked down upon while fringe events are added. 



Olympic Sports List: What Are the New Sports for 2024 Paris Games?

The History of the Olympic Games

(145) Sheffield 2025 Powerlifting Championships - YouTube

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