Sure, our Olympic shooters know how to hit the clay pigeons, but back in 1900, they were shooting at some live ones.
As part of iVillage.Co.UK’s collection of “weird and wonderful former Olympic sports,” 1900′s event of live pigeon shooting made the list. The games, held in Paris, featured a contest where pigeons were released before each shooter. As soon as the contestant missed two shots, they were eliminated.
Belgium‘s Leon de Lunden scooped gold with 21 hits. This is the only occasion animals were intentionally harmed in an Olympic event, writes iVillage.
Also included in the list, tug of war. –Brian McClintock
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