What Are The World’s Hardest Sports? | MYPROTEIN™ (2024)

Trying different sports is an excellent way to raise your fitness levels and challenge your body. The competitive element of sports can really push people to another level of effort and achievement.

But which sports are the toughest? We’ve assessed the skills and fitness needed for registered sports, and narrowed down the hardest sports you can do.Of course, the effort levels you put in can rapidly alter the workout your body gets. The more you put in, the more you get out, as the old mantra goes! So if you’re favourite sport isn’t in here, that’s not to say it’s easy. Try out one of these sports and compare it to your usual workout, and see how they compare.

What Are The World’s Hardest Sports? | MYPROTEIN™ (1)

Boxing

Boxing requires a very high level of cardiovascular fitness. A great deal of strength is also required to progress in boxing. Plus, there’s a big chance you’ll get punched in the face. To last a whole boxing match is to be able to manage 12 rounds of 3 minute HIIT sessions. And the intensity of those sessions is why boxing is often considered the world’s hardest sport.

A boxer must be nimble as well as powerful – or as the mighty Muhammed Ali put it “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”

Gymnastics

A gymnast must be flexible and powerful, and able to not only support their bodyweight but propel it at speed. Gymnastics requires full body fitness, with each muscle getting a thorough workout. With many of the gymnastic disciplines, there is no room for anything other than full effort. The likes of High or Uneven Bars necessitate the full body’s engagement. If you don’t train like gymnastics is the world’s hardest sport, you’ll soon end up flat on your face.

Rowing

Power and endurance are essential for rowers. In particular, the legs, arms and back muscles receive an intense workout. Rowing is also often considered a mental workout, too. The drive to win a race or hit a PB takes a lot of personal drive.

Ice Hockey

Keeping speed, power and balance on ice whilst withstanding barges and tackles certainly sounds tough. Ice hockey players need to be able to access explosive bursts of speed. Whilst working as a team means that all players do not have to work flat-out for the whole match, the shorter, intense bursts where they are vying for control of the puck or to out manoeuvre another player are feats of cardio ability and strength.

What Are The World’s Hardest Sports? | MYPROTEIN™ (2)

Swimming

Swimming is sometimes considered a relaxing or therapeutic sport, particular given its reputation for being easy on joints. However, competitive swimmers will attest it takes far more effort than a leisurely dip. Swimming competitively is a cardio workout that tests levels of endurance and strength. Muscles all over the body must be rigorously trained to create enough propulsion to out-swim your competitors. The body must be incredibly efficient in its movements to create the least resistance with the water, including when lifting the head to breathe.

Motocross

Okay, so this isn’t one that you can try out at the gym, but motocross riders are often credited with incredible fitness levels. The back and core muscles are the key to manoeuvring a motocross bike in tough terrain, while the arms keep the bike’s direction on track.

What Are The World’s Hardest Sports? | MYPROTEIN™ (2024)

FAQs

What Are The World’s Hardest Sports? | MYPROTEIN™? ›

Boxing. Any boxer will tell you that boxing is the most difficult sport to play. While it may appear disarmingly simple to anyone who hasn't attempted it—you just get into the ring and hit the other guy until he falls down, right? —boxing takes a lot of training.

What is the hardest game sport? ›

Top 10 Most Difficult Sports
  • #3: American Football.
  • #4: Basketball. ...
  • #5: Wrestling. ...
  • #6: Martial Arts. ...
  • #7: Tennis. ...
  • #8: Gymnastics. ...
  • #9: Baseball / Softball. ...
  • #10: Football [aka Soccer] Requiring little equipment and with basics that are easy to learn, football has unsurprisingly become the most played sport in the world. ...

What is the hardest sport to participate in? ›

Boxing. Any boxer will tell you that boxing is the most difficult sport to play. While it may appear disarmingly simple to anyone who hasn't attempted it—you just get into the ring and hit the other guy until he falls down, right? —boxing takes a lot of training.

What is the hardest sport for a girl? ›

Gymnastics is known as the hardest sport in the world. Many people don't understand why it's so difficult, but at Virginia Elite Gymnastics Academy, we know all too well!

What is the hardest sport mentally? ›

Chess – Chess is often considered one of the most mentally challenging sports, as players must think multiple moves ahead, anticipate their opponent's strategies, and maintain concentration over long games.

What sport is tougher than football? ›

Rugby and American football are both highly physical sports, but many argue that rugby is tougher than football. This article will delve into the reasons why rugby is often regarded as a more demanding and rugged sport compared to American football.

Which sport has the most rules? ›

The professional sport with the most rules is American football . With a rulebook that is over 100 pages long and constantly evolving , it can be a daunting task for players and coaches to keep up with all the regulations and nuances of the game .

What sport is hardest to go pro? ›

What Sport Is Hardest To Go Pro In?
  • Golf – The skill level required is extremely high, and the competitive field is vast. ...
  • Baseball – The pathway to professional baseball, particularly in Major League Baseball (MLB), is highly competitive.
Nov 16, 2023

Which sport has the highest injury rate? ›

1. Basketball. What sport has the highest injury rate? Although this may surprise you, basketball is actually the sport with the highest injury rate.

Which sport is easiest to go pro? ›

7 Easier Sports to Go Pro In: A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring Athletes
  • Golf is a sport that requires skill and precision, but its learning curve is less steep than in other sports. ...
  • Archery is a sport with a lower skill floor, and with regular practice, you can become proficient enough to compete at a higher level.

What's the safest sport? ›

What is the safest sport to play? The safest sport to play can vary, but generally, non-contact activities like swimming, golf, or table tennis are considered safer due to their lower risk of injury.

What sport is easiest on the body? ›

Road cycling or mountain biking

Cycling is very easy on your joints. You never create an impact with the ground, so your knees, ankles, hips, and back experience little strain during a session. Road cycling group rides and races are plentiful.

Which sport is most tough? ›

The top 8 hardest sports
  • Hockey. I did figure skating as a child for a solid year and promptly quit after I could not pass the “level 2” class at my local ice rink. ...
  • Gymnastics. I was a junior Olympic competitive gymnast for 10 years. ...
  • Boxing. ...
  • Figure Skating. ...
  • Wrestling. ...
  • Tennis. ...
  • Rugby. ...
  • Water Polo.
Mar 26, 2024

Which sport is more hard? ›

Martial arts, boxing, contact ball sports, and skeleton again also all take a big toll on the body through repetitive injuries, strain, and impacts on the body across an entire career, which is incredibly demanding on the physical body in the long term, making them all good contenders for the most physically demanding ...

Which sport is harder, gymnastics or football? ›

Both sports are very hard, even brutal at times. The high-pressure game environment and physical demands make football in particular a tough sport to be successful in. But if I had to pick one sport as the hardest, I would choose Gymnastics because of the longer and more intense training needed to reach the top.

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