The Olympic Games originated in Ancient Greece. The first games were held sometime around 776 BC. The Ancient Greeks believed that the hero Heracles began the festivities to honor his father, Zeus. Heracles possessed many extraordinary abilities as a demigod and provided an example of the fittest athlete. Several modern superheroes would also make great Olympians.
The first modern Olympics were held in Athens in 1896. The games have changed a lot since their ancient origins. Over 200 countries now participate, the games are no longer limited to male athletes and include many more sports. Superpowers probably go against the International Olympic Committee's regulations. Regardless, certain comic book heroes from Marvel and DC Comics would excel at many Olympic sports.
10 Surfing: The Silver Surfer Has The Best Board
Surfing is a new sport for the Olympics, introduced at the 2020 Tokyo Games. The Silver Surfer would be great at this sport for a variety of reasons, considering "surfer" is in his name. Not only is the Silver Surfer skilled at surfing, but his surfboard is made of a nearly indestructible material.
The Silver Surfer has a mental connection with his board that will listen to his every command. This means that even if the Silver Surfer were to fall off his board, he could call it back in seconds. Having a high-tech, cosmic-powered surfboard might be cheating, but it would certainly give the Surfer an edge over the competition.
9 High Jump: Superman Can Leap Tall Buildings In A Single Bound
Superman possesses numerous abilities, but he is best suited for a sport like the high jump. The high jump has been a staple of modern Olympics since its introduction in 1896. A classic hero performing this classic sport seems fitting.
Thanks to his Kryptonian heritage, Superman could excel at nearly any Olympic sport that involves any test of strength, speed, or accuracy. However, for years, Superman's tagline included the ability to "leap tall buildings in a single bound" so it only makes sense for him to compete in the high jump.
8 Snowboarding: Iceman Controls His Environment
There are several events under the banner of "snowboarding" and Iceman would excel at all of them. Bobby Drake is an Omega-level mutant and founding member of the X-Men. He has the power to control and produce ice, a skill that could greatly aid him in snowboarding.
Fans remember Iceman for his iconic ice slides which he frequently uses to travel. These slides could be used to give him a boost of speed while performing on a half-pipe. Bobby could also use the surrounding ice to perform amazing tricks while in the air. Needless to say, Iceman would truly be in his element on the slopes.
7 Swimming: Aquaman Is King Of The Seas
Aquaman, the King of Atlantis, was literally born to swim. There are numerous events within the swimming category. While Aquaman is great at swimming, he would still have to follow the rules of the specific category he competes in.
The freestyle event fits Aquaman's style perfectly. By competing in freestyle, Aquaman could choose the stroke that required him to bring his head above the water the least. Since he can breathe underwater, there is no need for him to resurface, but he would have to do so in order to conform to the rules. Needless to say, Aquaman would be leagues ahead of the competition.
6 Sport Climbing: Spider-Man Literally Sticks To Surfaces
Sport climbing was a new addition to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and is returning for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Spider-Man's most popular superpower is certainly his ability to stick to walls. It's one of the most iconic powers any superhero has, and this ability would give him an extreme edge over the competition.
Sport climbing involves athletes scaling an otherwise flat wall by reaching for periodically placed hand and foot holds. Spider-Man doesn't need these grips. He could crush the competition by simply climbing straight up the wall using his adhesive fingertips. Spider-Man does whatever a spider can, and that evidently includes winning gold in sport climbing.
5 Archery: Green Arrow Is An Extremely Skilled Marksman
Green Arrow does not have any superpowers. However, he makes up for it with his mastery of archery. Green Arrow's expert precision makes him a perfect candidate for an Olympic archery team.
Green Arrow could compete in the individual archery event, but there is also a men's team competition which requires three archers. If he competed in this event, he could recruit his sidekick Speedy and his son Connor. There is also a mixed team archery event which pairs a male and female archer together. In this event, Green Arrow could work with his second Speedy, Mia.
4 Weightlifting: Hulk's Strength Is Unmatched
After dangerous exposure to gamma radiation, Bruce Banner became the Incredible Hulk. As the Hulk, Bruce possesses extreme levels of strength. This raw power is exactly what an Olympic weightlifter needs.
The Olympics feature several weight classes. Hulk would fall into the final category, 109 kg+ (240 lb+). In this class, he'd compete against the bulkiest weightlifters weighing over 240 pounds. Unfortunately for the other athletes, unless Abomination, Red Hulk, or She-Hulk entered the competition, Hulk would have no trouble winning as long as he kept his temper in check.
3 Discus Throw: Wonder Woman Trained In Classic Olympic Sports
The discus throw was one of the original events in the ancient Olympics. Wonder Woman was surely trained by her fellow Amazons on Paradise Island in the proper techniques for classic Olympic events. Young Diana trains with her sisters at the beginning of Wonder Woman 1984.
Wonder Woman's powers and martial prowess make her a fierce warrior, but also a great athlete who would excel at the discus. Diana is often depicted with a shield and armor. Her shield resembles a larger version of a discus. Like a discus, she can use her super strength to hurl her shield at enemies.
2 Hammer Throw: Thor Is Already An Expert With Hammers
Thor Odinson is an iconic Marvel Avenger who wields Mjolnir, one of the most beloved weapons in comics. Mjolnir may not adhere to Olympic regulations, thanks to its mystical enchantments and ability to summon lightning, but there are plenty of other hammers Thor could throw.
Technically, the equipment used in the Olympics are not "hammers" per se. The actual equipment resembles more of a weighted ball at the end of a chain. Regardless, Thor is already an expert at hammer-throwing. Thanks to his godlike strength, he should have no trouble using this skill with a different piece of equipment.
1 Track: The Flash Is An Unstoppable Sprinter
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There are many distances athletes can run at the Olympics. However, it doesn't matter which event the Flash competes in. He would have absolutely no competition in any of the events. As the Fastest Man Alive, the Flash could leave all other athletes in his trail of lightning.
The Flash raced Superman and won. Every member of the Flash family can run fast enough to break the sound barrier at least. By the time his competition finishes, Flash could have run laps around the globe. Barry and Wally would display showmanship while Bart would absolutely rub it in people's faces.