Tokyo, Japan - Nov.29 2017: 2020 Olympic concept - looking up view of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building with Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games logo, skyscrapers reflect dramatic blue sky
While the Olympics are looking different this time around, one thing still remains the same – most of us aren’t participating in the games as much as we wish we were. The Clarity Quest team had some fun thinking through their favorite sports, what we’d LOVE to compete in, and what sports we think should absolutely be in the games in 2024.
Chris Slocumb, President and Founder
Which sport is your favorite to watch?
Track and field, especially distance running events. It’s amazing the athletes can run at speed for so long. I particularly like steeplechase.
If you could participate, which sport would you choose
200m breaststroke swimming. I’ve always loved breaststroke as I stink at the other swimming strokes.
Which sporting event do you think should be added to the Olympics?
Waterskiing – c’mon jumps and tricks at speed! If snowboarding is in the Winter Olympics, only fair to have a great summer counterpart.
Bonnie Quintanilla, Public Relations Director
Which sport is your favorite to watch?
Track and field as I got hooked on it when my son competed and swimming (it’s a tie.) because I am a swimmer.
If you could participate, which sport would you choose
Participate – swimming – I used to compete and feel at home in the water.
Which sporting event do you think should be added to the Olympics?
Ultimate frisbee – it’s fun to watch, challenging to play, and different.
Casey Frushour, Senior Director of Creative Services
Which sport is your favorite to watch?
I cannot get enough of track and field. As a former middle-distance runner and long/high jumper, it’s a sport I can most relate to, and understand just how fast and powerful these athletes really are. To get more specific, my favorite event to watch is the 1500m run. It’s long enough to invoke some running strategy with lead changes, while short enough to hold my dwindling attention span… these people are pretty much sprinting for 3 and a half minutes – it’s insane.
If you could participate, which sport would you choose
I can’t swim, am afraid of falling off horses, and love to be outdoors… that gets rid of a lot of sports. In the end, I think I would want to participate in beach volleyball. On the beach working on a tan while competing – I am in! Now, if only I was about 6″ taller. A close second would be golf, but the tan lines are a deal breaker for me.
Which sporting event do you think should be added to the Olympics?
Spikeball. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone. It’s basically two on two volleyball, except you hit the ball down into a (taut) net rather than over a net… and it’s much faster. Check out these plays and you’ll see why I think it’s an Olympic-worthy sport.
Brian Shilling, Executive Vice President of Client Operations
Which sport is your favorite to watch?
Gymnastics, swimming, and diving – things you don’t normally get to watch!
If you could participate, which sport would you choose
Being a life-long tennis player, I’d have to go with tennis. Although I don’t think anyone can get in the way of Djokpvic’s Golden Slam.
Which sporting event do you think should be added to the Olympics?
Spikeball. It’s fast-paced, a team sport, and exciting to watch. If you haven’t seen it, head to YouTube for highlights – you won’t be disappointed!
Lindsay Groth, Account and Business Development Director
Which sport is your favorite to watch?
There is absolutely no way for me to choose. I have watched everything, even the lesser televised sports like rowing, archery, shooting, etc. These athletes have trained their whole lives, elevating to the best in their sport. The respect and admiration I have for them, especially performing without their support system in Tokyo, is beyond expression.
If you could participate, which sport would you choose
Swimming, I find the sport absolutely exhilarating.
Which sporting event do you think should be added to the Olympics?
Softball and baseball, it is very disappointing that these sports are added or eliminated based on the host country. I believe these sports should have the opportunity to compete in every Olympic games.
David Gomez, Account Director
Which sport is your favorite to watch?
Wrestling. It’s a very difficult sport, one-on-one with no team members to help you out on the mat. Also because Kurt Angle won a gold medal for the US with a broken neck.
If you could participate, which sport would you choose
Skeet because it’s the only thing I could ever do in my spare time.
Which sporting event do you think should be added to the Olympics?
I think they should add some kind of MMA-style event. It seems like a no-brainer. They already have Judo, Wrestling, and Taekwondo
Spencer Rohatynski, Digital Marketing Manager
Which sport is your favorite to watch?
I love to watch olympic skateboarding, mainly because I find it to be one of the most challenging sports out there. Anything anyone does on a skateboard to me is impressive so it’s exciting to see the incredible tricks the olympians are able to do.
If you could participate, which sport would you choose
There are a ton of choices for me here, but ultimately I would have to pick ski jumping… for the sole reason of this; I’ve always wanted to be able to fly, it was always my imaginary super power when I was a kid. If you’ve watched ski jumping, you know they come as close as it gets to flying. It’s quite terrifying to watch sometimes, but I think it would be absolutely exhilarating.
Which sporting event do you think should be added to the Olympics?
Dodgeball. It’s a hilarious sport to start with, then you throw in years of training and a worldly competition, it could be the greatest olympic sport in existence!
Marla Sokolowski, Senior Director of Marketing Systems
Which sport is your favorite to watch?
Synchronized swimming – I appreciate the teamwork required to deliver a coordinated and artistic performance.
If you could participate, which sport would you choose
Badminton. It’s my favorite outdoor family sport and who doesn’t love a smashing serve.
Which sporting event do you think should be added to the Olympics?
Disc golf. It seems interesting to watch.
Megan Higdon, Content and Public Relations Manager
Which sport is your favorite to watch?
I love watching track and field events. The sprints are so exciting.
If you could participate, which sport would you choose
I think archery would be fun and interesting to participate in. The concentration and precision it takes sounds really intense.
Which sporting event do you think should be added to the Olympics?
I think having something very obscure added to the games to take away from the general intensity would be a good palate cleanser — something like blowing bubbles. 🙂
When Melanie Hilliard, our Account Director and Content Lead was asked about her Olympic favorites, her response was, “If reading and cat snuggling were Olympic sports, I’d be all in.” : )