Study Names the Most Dangerous Sport at the Olympics
- New research has analysed Olympic injury data since 2008 to identify which Olympic sports are the riskiest for beginners.
- BMX emerged as the most dangerous Olympic sport, with a 34.38% injury rate, while Canoe Slalom was the safest, with a 1.2% rate.
- The London 2012 Olympics had the highest overall injury rate, with 12.8% of athletes reporting injuries.
New statistical analysis has identified the most injury-prone Olympic sports, with over one-third of BMX cyclists suffering injuries during competition.
Conducted by online casino site Casinority, the research analysed recorded athletic injuries from the Summer Olympic Games since Beijing 2008. By comparing the number of athletes in each sport to the number of reported injuries, researchers determined the sports with the highest risk factors.
Olympic Sports Most Prone to Injury
BMX racing proved the most dangerous Olympic sport, with 34.38% of athletes sustaining injuries. The risk was exceptionally high in 2016, with 37.5% of BMX riders injured, compared to 31.3% in 2012. While 2020 (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) saw a significant decline to 26% for BMX racing, BMX freestyle still posed a risk, with over 6% of athletes injured.
Olympic Sports with the Highest Injury Rate
| Rank | Sport Name | Average Rate of Olympic Injury |
| 1 | Cycling - BMX | 34.38% |
| 2 | Taekwondo | 29.92% |
| 3 | Football | 27.19% |
| 4 | Cycling - MTB | 22.44% |
| 5 | Boxing | 18.12% |
| 6 | Handball | 17.98% |
| 7 | Hockey | 16.55% |
| 8 | Weightlifting | 15.86% |
| 9 | Water polo | 14.03% |
| 10 | Athletics | 13.04% |
Taekwondo follows closely behind BMX as the second most dangerous Olympic sport, with nearly 30% of athletes suffering injuries. While the risk was halved in Tokyo 2020, it peaked at a concerning 39% in 2012. Football also carries a high risk, with over 27% of its 1,508 competitors between 2008 and 2016 experiencing injuries.
Mountain biking (MTB), while averaging a risk of 22.44%, saw a dramatic decrease in injuries in 2020 to just 7%. Most injuries were minor, with about 1% lasting longer than a week. Despite a lower average injury rate of 18.12%, boxing had the second-highest number of injured athletes at the last Olympics, indicating a growing risk. Despite a lower overall injury rate of 18.12%, 5% of boxing injuries in 2020 lasted over a week. It had the second-highest number of injured athletes at the last Olympics, suggesting a growing danger.
Olympic Sports Least Prone to Injury
Canoe slalom boasts the safest record of all Olympic sports, with an average injury rate of just 1.2% over the past four Games. The last Olympics saw an impressively low injury rate of under 5%, with only two reported injuries between 2012 and 2016.
Olympic Sports with the Lowest Injury Rate
| Rank | Sport Name | Average Rate of Olympic Injury |
| 1 | Canoe slalom | 1.20% |
| 2 | Canoeing/kayaking (all types) | 2.23% |
| 3 | Shooting | 2.24% |
| 4 | Rowing | 2.25% |
| 5 | Canoe sprint | 3.22% |
| 6 | Archery | 3.65% |
| 7 | Swimming | 3.78% |
| 8 | Cycling - Track | 4.24% |
| 9 | Gymnastics - Trampoline | 4.69% |
| 10 | Equestrian | 4.73% |
All types of kayaking and canoeing are considered safe Olympic sports, with an average injury rate of 2.23%. Despite 987 competitors between 2008 and 2016, only 22 injuries were recorded. Shooting is also relatively safe, with a similar injury rate of 2.24% and 26 injuries across three Olympic Games.
Rowing follows closely behind, averaging a 2.25% injury rate out of 1,640 Olympians, with only 3% of athletes injured in 2020. Canoe sprint, while still relatively safe, has a slightly higher injury rate of 3.22%, with 3% of athletes injured in 2020 and 1% experiencing injuries lasting over a week.
Commenting on the findings, Alex Gambler, a spokesperson for Casinority, said:
"Trying new sports can be exhilarating, but it's essential to approach it with caution. The high injury rates among professionals highlight the significant risks involved, especially for beginners."
"While physical activity is crucial for overall well-being, choosing sports that suit your fitness level and skillset is equally important. Starting with less demanding activities and gradually increasing intensity is a safer approach. Remember, the goal is to enjoy exercise, not to replicate Olympic feats. By listening to your body and seeking professional guidance, you can reap the benefits of an active lifestyle without putting yourself at undue risk."
ENDS
If you use these insights, please link credit to https://casinority.com/ as they are responsible for compiling and analysing the data.
Methodology: This analysis aimed to identify which Olympic sports were most dangerous by finding each sport's injury rate.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) implemented a multi-sport injury surveillance system for the first time at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and the number of participants and injuries for most Olympic events has been recorded at every Olympiad since. This data was used to assess the general likelihood of injury in each sport.
Data was collected from publicly available journal articles from the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM). To determine the risks associated with each Olympic sport, the percentage of athletes and injuries for each event across Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016 was researched. Additional data on injury rates were included from the Tokyo 2020 Games. A calculated injury rate is the number upon which the final ranking is based.
Olympic Sports with the Highest Injury Rate
| Rank | Sport Name | Average Rate of Olympic Injury |
| 1 | Cycling - BMX | 34.38 |
| 2 | Taekwondo | 29.92 |
| 3 | Football | 27.19 |
| 4 | Cycling - MTB | 22.44 |
| 5 | Boxing | 18.12 |
| 6 | Handball | 17.98 |
| 7 | Hockey | 16.55 |
| 8 | Weightlifting | 15.86 |
| 9 | Water polo | 14.03 |
| 10 | Athletics | 13.04 |
| 11 | Judo | 12.44 |
| 12 | Triathlon | 11.59 |
| 13 | Wrestling | 11.33 |
| 14 | Basketball | 10.69 |
| 15 | Gymnastics - Artistic | 10.54 |
| 16 | Badminton | 9.65 |
| 17 | Tennis | 9.44 |
| 18 | Beach volleyball | 9.38 |
| 19 | Cycling (all types) | 9.29 |
| 20 | Gymnastics (all types) | 8.41 |
| 21 | Volleyball | 7.42 |
| 22 | Cycling - Road | 7.28 |
| 23 | Synchronized swimming | 7.05 |
| 24 | Sailing | 6.90 |
| 25 | Fencing | 6.86 |
| 26 | Gymnastics - Rhythmic | 6.77 |
| 27 | Diving | 6.25 |
| 28 | Modern pentathlon | 6.05 |
| 29 | Table tennis | 4.83 |
| 30 | Equestrian | 4.73 |
| 31 | Gymnastics - Trampoline | 4.69 |
| 32 | Cycling - Track | 4.24 |
| 33 | Swimming | 3.78 |
| 34 | Archery | 3.65 |
| 35 | Canoe sprint | 3.22 |
| 36 | Rowing | 2.25 |
| 37 | Shooting | 2.24 |
| 38 | Canoeing/kayaking (all types) | 2.23 |
| 39 | Canoe slalom | 1.20 |
All the best,
Erin Roberts
erin.roberts@journoresearch.org
Phone inquires: +44208 050 0054
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