10 Bizarre Sports You’ve Probably Never Seen

Sports are likely as old as humankind itself. From ancient wrestling matches in Mesopotamia to the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece, people have always sought out ways to compete, show off physical prowess, and enjoy some good old-fashioned fun. As time has marched on, sports have evolved—and diversified—far beyond what the ancients could have ever imagined. While the world is well-acquainted with household names like soccer, basketball, and baseball, there exists a whole realm of athletic oddities that few outside their niche communities have ever encountered.

Some of these sports are born from tradition, others from sheer whimsy, and some simply from someone asking, “Why not?” Here are 10 bizarre sports you’ve probably never heard of, but just might want to try—or at least watch—once in your life.

1. Cheese Rolling (England)

Picture this: a steep hill, a group of people poised like sprinters, and a large wheel of cheese hurtling down at breakneck speed. Welcome to the Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake in Gloucestershire, England.

Contestants chase a 9-pound wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down an absurdly steep hill. The first person to cross the finish line at the bottom wins the cheese. Sounds simple? Not quite. The slope is so steep and uneven that running is nearly impossible; most participants tumble, flip, and crash their way downhill. Broken bones and bruises are common, but so is the laughter. It’s a strange blend of danger, tradition, and dairy.

2. Sepak Takraw (Southeast Asia)

Imagine a game of volleyball, but instead of using your hands, you can only use your feet, head, knees, and chest. That’s Sepak Takraw, a sport immensely popular in Southeast Asia but relatively unknown elsewhere.

Players use acrobatic kicks and flips to spike a rattan ball over the net. The speed and grace required are breathtaking, blending elements of soccer and martial arts into one of the most visually stunning sports you’ll ever witness.

3. Underwater Hockey (Globally)

Also known as Octopush, this sport takes traditional hockey and dunks it underwater. Two teams of six compete to push a heavy puck across the pool floor into the opposing team’s goal.

Players wear fins, masks, snorkels, and use a small stick about a foot long. Since there’s no way to communicate verbally and oxygen is limited, strategy and teamwork take on new meaning. It’s fast-paced, intense, and oddly mesmerizing to watch.

4. Extreme Ironing (Worldwide)

What happens when you combine extreme sports with household chores? You get Extreme Ironing, a real sport where people take ironing boards to remote or dangerous locations and iron clothes.

Whether it’s on a mountaintop, underwater, while skydiving, or even on top of a moving vehicle, the point is to perform the mundane act of ironing in the most extreme way possible. It’s part performance art, part adrenaline rush, and 100% bizarre.

5. Wife Carrying (Finland and Beyond)

Originating in Finland, Wife Carrying is exactly what it sounds like: men race while carrying their wives (or in some cases, teammates) through a grueling obstacle course of mud, water, and hurdles.

The most popular style of carrying is the “Estonian carry,” where the woman hangs upside-down on the man’s back with her legs around his shoulders. The winner receives their partner’s weight in beer. It’s silly, slightly chaotic, and oddly romantic.

6. Bossaball (Spain/Belgium)

Bossaball looks like it was created by a group of kids who had too much sugar and trampoline access. And that’s not a bad thing. This sport is played on an inflatable court that includes a trampoline on each side of a net.

Combining elements of volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, and capoeira (a Brazilian martial art), players spike and flip their way through matches to the beat of live music. Yes—there’s usually a DJ providing samba-style tunes while the match goes on. It’s part sport, part party, all spectacle.

7. Toe Wrestling (United Kingdom)

Think arm wrestling, but with toes. Two opponents sit on the floor, lock toes, and try to pin each other’s foot to the side. Matches are best two out of three, switching feet each round.

Toe wrestling began in the UK in the 1970s, and there’s even a World Toe Wrestling Championship held annually. It’s goofy, oddly intense, and surprisingly competitive. Clean feet are a must.

8. Bog Snorkeling (Wales)

In Bog Snorkeling, participants dive into a water-filled trench in a peat bog and race to complete two lengths (about 120 meters) as quickly as possible. Swimmers must wear snorkels and flippers—but they’re not allowed to use conventional swimming strokes.

Invented in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, this muddy challenge is as messy as it is eccentric. Spectators come for the speed, stay for the spectacle, and usually leave smelling like a swamp.

9. Kabaddi (India and Asia)

Though Kabaddi is wildly popular in South Asia, it remains relatively unknown in the West—and that’s a shame. The game is a mix of tag, wrestling, and breath control.

Players take turns running into the opposing team’s half of the court, tagging as many players as they can, and running back to their side—all while chanting “kabaddi, kabaddi” without taking a breath. If they get caught or stop chanting, they’re out. The balance of aggression, agility, and strategy is captivating.

10. Quidditch (Worldwide)

Yes, that Quidditch. Inspired by the Harry Potter series, Muggle Quidditch has evolved into a legitimate sport played at colleges and clubs across the world.

Players run around on broomsticks (which remain between their legs at all times), aiming to score points by throwing a ball called the quaffle through hoops. There’s also a “snitch”—a neutral player dressed in gold who runs around the field with a tennis ball tucked in a sock attached to their shorts. Capturing it ends the game and earns big points.

While undeniably odd, the sport has found a passionate fanbase and even formed an international governing body (recently renamed Quadball for copyright reasons).