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The Most Demanding Sports

stopwatch Here are the results of a detailed analysis to decide once-and-for-all determine which of the world's sports is the most demanding. The folks at 'Page 2' on the ESPN site did the analysis - it was not just based on personal opinion, they got together a bunch of experts and ranked a range of attributes (endurance, strength, power, speed, agility, flexibility, hand-eye coordination, nerve, durability and analytic aptitude). See more about these ten skills that go into athleticism.

Boxing Rules

The top ranked sport as determined by ESPN was boxing (and the sport they rated as the least demanding was fishing!). There may have been a biased view of the US sports in this study, which is understandable if the voters were more familiar with them, and only 60 of the world's sports were voted on. I know of at least one sport that would have to rank very high but is not there at all - the Irish game of Hurling. Look it up - it's fast, skillful and you need to be very tough. Australian Rules Football is also a noticeable omission. Don't agree with this list? See our analysis of sports which has come up with our own list of the World's Fittest Sport. You can add your comment below.

Ranking	Sport
1	Boxing
2	Ice Hockey
3	American Football
4	Basketball
5	Wrestling
6	Martial Arts
7	Tennis
8	Gymnastics
9	Baseball/Softball
10	Soccer
11	Skiing: Alpine
11	Water Polo
13	Rugby
14	Lacrosse
15	Rodeo: Steer Wrestling
16	Track and Field: Pole Vault
17	Field Hockey
17	Speed Skating
19	Figure Skating
20	Cycling: Distance
20	Volleyball
22	Racquetball/Squash
23	Surfing
24	Fencing
25	Skiing: Freestyle
26	Team Handball
27	Cycling: Sprints
28	Bobsledding/Luge
29	Ski Jumping
30	Badminton
30	Skiing: Nordic
32	Auto Racing
33	Track and Field: High Jump
34	Track and Field: Long, Triple jumps
35	Diving
36	Swimming (all strokes): Distance
37	Skateboarding
38	Track and Field: Sprints
39	Rowing
40	Rodeo: Calf Roping
40	Track and Field: Distance
42	Rodeo: Bull/Bareback/Bronc Riding
43	Track and Field: Middle Distance
44	Weight-Lifting
45	Swimming (all strokes): Sprints
46	Water Skiing
47	Table Tennis
48	Track and Field: Weights
49	Canoe/Kayak
50	Horse Racing
51	Golf
52	Cheerleading
52	Roller Skating
54	Equestrian
55	Archery
56	Curling
57	Bowling
58	Shooting
59	Billiards
60	Fishing

Ranking List

Once the 10 attributes of athleticism were identified, they then asked a group of experts made up of sports scientists, kinesiology academics and sporting journalists to assign a number from 1 to 10 to each of these skills. This analysis was applied to 60 sports from around the world, and the final results are shown in the table here. See also the sports lists for each of the components of athleticism.

Comments

Seriously? if ya'll were smart, Rodeo:Bull/Bareback/Bronc riding would be top of the list, its uncommon but this sport takes you to the very limits of your endurance, strength, and mental/physical willpower, and its not for pussies (from Rank Rider, Jan 2012)
cycling should be in top 5... (from jack, Jan 2012)
Tennis above squash ? jajaja is that a joke ? (from Mauricio, Jan 2012)
Why is motocross not up there? Top three all the way! The amount of training the pros put in and the high heart rate for 30 min plus two laps not only once, but twice a race. Then add in all the muscles you use to control the bike; go ridin on a real Moto track and you'll feel aches in muscles you never knew you had. Not to mention the mental side of the sport. It is really over looked as a physically demanding sport, "all you do is ride the bike". The truth is the bike rides you. It's not one on one,it's one on 39 other riders. You also have to compete with yourself, the mental part of the sport is crucial and it can really drain you. All in all every other sport takes one ball... Motocross takes two. :) (from Caleb, Jan 2012)
I think it should be 1 boxing 2 rowing 3 cross-country skiing 4 running 5 hockey. (from Ave, Jan 2012)
Where is dancing..... which rank does it have?? (from Karl, Dec 2011)
MOTOCROSS! (from Cammy, Dec 2011)
there's been studies done with top athletles like travis pastrana and other major sport playing test differnt physical stenghts and ect... the study resulted in soccer bieng the most physically demanding sport with motocross in second why is motocross on this list (from Nov 2011)
Why is rowing listed at 39?!?! That doesn't make any sense to me at all. People think it looks easy because the people make it LOOK easy because they are good at it! Rowers are the most fit athletes out of any other sport. (from Jessica, Nov 2011)
35? really? rowing may be shorter a shorter duration of race/game but you are pushing your body to its absolute limit the entire way. top 10 at least (from rower, Nov 2011)
MOTOCROSS for sure (from J, Nov 2011)
I think u guys need to do some motocross testing. It would show proof how demanding it really is. U should get ESPN to do the sports science deal it would surprise a lot of people. (from selina, Oct 2011)
Competitive cheerleading should definitely be higher on the list in my opinion. It's incredibly demanding to run, jump, dance, tumble and throw girls in the air while constantly counting in your head to ensure the routine is perfectly in sync while keeping a smile on your face and making it look effortless. Basketball players throw balls, we throw people. Constant running through the whole routine, only stopping to throw girls in the air. I call that demanding. Not to mention, in most other sports, when you get hurt, you get off the floor and a replacement goes on. In cheer, there are no replacements, you get punched, kicked, concussed or sprain an ankle, you work through it. No matter what. there is no stopping, it's your one shot. (from Shania, Oct 2011)
I love how everyone thinks their sport should be number one. Formula one? Don't kid yourself Jesse. Motocross does not deserve to be top 5 for all the people moaning. I do agree that cross-country skiing should be number one and rowing should definitely be higher up. Football should be about 35th i'd say to be honest. I was also surprised about badminton, that should probably be top 15. (from Euan, Aug 2011)
Where is Rock Climbing/Bouldering? thats has to be up in the top 20 or even the top 10 (from Toby, Aug 2011)
Yeah motocross is top 5 easy. Mentally demanding for 40 minz at a time flat out heart rate around 175 to 190 the whole time. No rest have a mind fade ya have broken bones. (from Thomas, Aug 2011)
People that are hating on this please, you're only upset cause your favourite sport didn't make it to top 10 so stop complaining and keep your opinions to yourselves (from Chris, July 2011)
This is retarded who actually cares about a sports list if you don't play it how would you know, but yes some things on this list are ridiculous. (from Laxsince98, July 2011)
Motocross by far is the most demanding. Try a 45 minute Moto then tell me. (from Big J, June 2011)
I think you guys are missing the point. its not the most physically demanding sport but rather the most demanding of the entire aspect of sports including mental (from np, June 2011)
Motocross is more demanding then most of these sports (from gee, June 2011)
Please American football over Rugby, skiing, soccer, wrestling you must be joking??? 40 seconds of explosion vs non-stop intervals of up to 45 minutes. The condition of the players must speak for itself surely? Get an NFL player to run Rugby for two halves, no chance. (from Mick, May 2011)
I see you have placed rowing at number 39? under badminton? under surfing? football? soccer? SKATEBOARDING? I do believe the person that made this has never tried rowing. that is ridiculous. In a race the amount of lactic acid build up is incredible. And goes for 6 minutes. And you CANNOT stop without being a disgrace. Rowing is also a skill. You can't get in a boat and go. Every slight mishap will slow you down. It has even been PROVEN that rowing is the most energy demanding sport. The person who made this is a fool. 39th. Unbelievable. It is THE most demanding sport. point out how it isn't or how something is harder and i will tell you how it's not. (from JJ, May 2011).
Team or doubles volleyball? Team should not be greater than racquetball and others. (from andy.b79, Apr 2011)
Motocross top 3 for sure (from Ray, Apr 2011)
Swimming no 45, what is this!!! (from Jack, Jan 2011).
This list is an absolute disgrace to any sports person ... rowing 39th??, should be top 2 ... tennis 7th?, should be 40th. Whoever came up with this list clearly shows a lack of intelligence and is obviously a stupid dumb American who wouldn't know the first thing about physical demands (from George A, Jan 2011).
ama motor x and super x check that out (from slopie, Jan 2011)
What about rowing??????!!!!?????? how the hell is motorcross and basketball anywhere near as intense as rowing? I rate it should be x-country skiing at 1 then rowing at 2 (from jjf, Dec 2010)
I agree with ice hockey being up that high. However, I would definitely switch basketball and soccer. Soccer should be in the top 5. (from unbiased Dec 2010)
There's no way this is legit. Short track speed skating exploits EVERY single of those skills to the extreme. (m, Nov 2010).
Motocross is not listed! what a joke. Top 2 ( T.Friday, Nov 2010).
what about AFL !!! (Josh, Nov 2010).
AH!!!! LOOOL!!!! soccer #10 ?!?!?! Soccer requires every skill they mentioned. Requires more speed, more endurance, more power and more analytic aptitude than any sport in that list that uses a ball. It so frustrating seeing tops like this one being made by people who know nothing about the sport. (Frank, Nov 2010).
Uh ya think they may have missed a top 5 with motocross?? Idiots. (James, Nov 2010).
Formula one (Driving) should be second (Jesse, Oct 2010).

The Most Demanding Sports

Boxing Rules

Ranking List

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