With the Paris Olympic Games 2024 just around the corner, we are gearing up for some great Olympic coverage during July and August and to get things started, we thought it would be fun to look at some of the sports that used to be in the Olympic Games but didn’t stand the test of time and the watches we would pair with them.
Poetry (1912 – 1948)
Yes, you read that correctly, poetry used to be an Olympic sport. The poems in question had to be written on the theme of sports, so there is a loose connection, although if no calories are burned, can poems really be classified as an Olympic discipline? Poetry still ended up being on the roster for seven Olympic events, however, so it had a good run.
Montblanc Iced Sea Automatic Date
This was an easy category to find a watch for because when it comes to writing poetry, the only watch brand in this class is Montblanc with its ties to writing instruments. Initially, I was going to go for the Star Legacy Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph Meisterstück 100 Years edition, but then I remembered that we needed a sports connection, so how about this gorgeous Iced Sea Automatic Date in bronze with its black glacier-patterned dial?
200m Obstacle Swimming
Why just swim, when you can do obstacles too? Honestly, this sounds like a whole lot more fun. The event started at the 1900 Summer Olympics held in Paris and included three obstacles. The first two needed to be climbed over – a pole and a row of boats – and the third, also a row of boats, required swimmers to swim under them.
Doxa Sub 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler
When it comes to adventures around water, this Doxa Sub 300T Sharkhunter Clive Cussler totally fits the bill. This watch marks the second chapter in Doxa’s homage to the American novelist whose novels have largely contributed to Doxa’s reputation for adventure. This new series comes with a black dial featuring an elegant compass rose marking the four cardinal points and is equipped with highly legible hands and indexes to help you navigate all kinds of aquatic obstacles.
Tandem Bicycle Sprint (1906-1908 & 1920 – 1972)
The tandem bicycle sprint was introduced during the 1906 unofficial Olympic Games – the Intercalated Games – and was quite dangerous given that the race took place on a steeply banked track. It was for men only and saw 34 riders compete from seven different countries in its inaugural race, with France taking the gold.
Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono “Cycling Edition”
When it comes to cycling, riders need a timepiece with a movement that isn’t going to be impacted by the vibrations through the handlebars, and the Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono “Cycling Edition” is the perfect fit with its COSC-certified Manufacture Calibre MT5813 that has a silicon hairspring for a more stable timing rate. Add to this a fantastic design with a black matt-finished carbon composite case, titanium pushers and caseback, white luminous hands and indexes, the brand’s signature “Snowflake” hands, and red accents, and this is a timepiece for the Tandem Bicycle Sprint. The only issue is that you are going to need two!
Solo Synchronized Swimming (1984 to 1992)
Even the name of this sport is absurd unless you get points for synchronizing your arms with your legs! This unusual discipline started at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984 and appeared in Seoul and Barcelona, before being folded into the group disciple. Fun fact: men are not allowed to compete in either Olympic discipline, which seems grossly unfair.
Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra
For solo synchronized swimming, we need both water resistance and elegance, and this Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra definitely has both. Available in different sizes – 38mm, 34mm, or 28mm – each model is water resistant to 150 metres, making it synchronized swimproof! Add to this mother-of-pearl dials and diamonds on the dial and bezel and they will definitely wow the judges!
Pistol Duelling (1908)
And last but not least, we have pistol duelling, an event involving heavily clad athletes shooting wax bullets at each other. No gunpowder was used to reduce the velocity of the bullets. Luckily it was stopped before anyone got hurt, but it did look like good fun.
Kross’s House of the Dragon Collector Set
For this category, we need a brand that knows how to have fun, and for that Kross Studio immediately comes to mind. Renowned for its collector sets inspired by different movies and television series, the company has a fantasy side that we all love here at WorldTempus. But don’t be mistaken, each of its timepieces is seriously complicated with high-end mechanical movements including central floating tourbillons. The latest edition photographed here is the latest edition of its Game of Thrones saga that could take on any Olympic Sport!
