Sports

Thrilling gameplay, dramatic storylines and top-notch talent are all important factors in ensuring a sport's popularity grows and fanbases thrive. The most popular sports in the world are all spectacles of athletic competition that attract large crowds in the stands and around the television.

By Mitch Ryan

Soccer, football — no matter what you call it, the world's most popular sport has a long and colorful history, from its ancient origins to its modern-day status as a global phenomenon. But when was soccer invented? How did it become the "beautiful game" that captivates millions today?

By Mack Hayden

There's little doubt that United States loves sports. The country is home to some of the world's biggest sports, in terms of fans, viewership, event attendance, sheer revenue and pure spectacle.

By Zach Taras

Strength is a trait that seems well-suited to competition. Over the years, there have been various attempts to claim world supremacy in strength, with different strongman competitions arising to certify the most impressive achievements.

By Zach Taras

It's one of the easiest human feats to attempt but one of the hardest to persist at — because when the urge to breathe hits, it hits hard, and it can seem impossible to keep going.

By Zach Taras

If you've ever watched professional football, you've probably noticed that the players tend to be built rather large. Not all positions, mind you, but some of them certainly appear to be carrying quite a lot of mass.

By Zach Taras

Professional and college athletics is a massive market that brings in hundreds of billions of dollars each year, but a large part of those proceeds come from the venue. People come from all around to gather in a stadium, arena or similar venue to cheer on their team and bask in the energy of live sports (and sometimes even massive concerts).

By Mitch Ryan

This country might've been founded on baseball, but there's no question that football is America's game. From humble beginnings of Ivy League teams in leather helmets while they marched through the mud, to modern-day arenas where hundreds of thousands of fans shake the largest modern stadiums, U.S. universities have cheered on their schools to fight for glory and win the day.

By Mitch Ryan

Free diving is a breathtaking sport, literally and figuratively, requiring athletes dive to astonishing depths (recorded primarily in meters) on a single breath of air. Instead of using scuba gear, these free divers rely mainly on their own lungs to explore the depths of the ocean.

By Marie Look

Owen Hart, a member of the legendary Hart wrestling family, was known for his exceptional in-ring skills, charismatic personality and high-flying style in professional wrestling. Competing primarily in the WWF (now WWE), he won multiple championships and was celebrated for his technical prowess and entertaining matches.

By Desiree Bowie

In the time it takes you to cook a five-minute meal in the microwave, elite-level runners have finished their 1-mile run - with time to spare. More impressively, some of these athletes continue to show that we have yet to reach the limit for physical achievements by shaving fractions off the fastest mile time.

By Nicole Antonio & Yara Simón

The title for highest paid WNBA player in the 2024 season is actually a tie between three women on three different WNBA teams.

By Marie Look

Aroldis Chapman holds the most records for the fastest pitch ever recorded, but adjusting old records for current standards adds a couple older contenders.

By Zach Taras

Nearly a dozen kickers have hit the 3rd and 4th farthest distances, but only one player has kicked the longest field goal in NFL history.

By Yara Simón

The history of roller skating is a winding road that started with John Joseph Merlin in the 18th century and evolved into multiple sports we still play today.

By Patty Rasmussen

Have you ever wondered what it's like to play professional football? We have, so we called up players Takeo Spikes, Carlos Emmons, Jonas Jennings, Fred Beasley and Willie Anderson to find out.

Running through the extreme heat, elevation, snow or incredibly rough terrain in an ultramarathon is a challenge designed to defeat all but the most determined and prepared.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Many of the latest-generation sports stadiums are high-tech, sophisticated and spectacular. But that all comes at astronomical cost that can balloon into the billions.

By Patrick J. Kiger

The hosel is a little piece of metal that plays a big part in both golf club construction and in the club's performance.

By Patty Rasmussen

This Georgia baseball team has become a viral phenomenon. How? By changing the rules and making the game fast, fun and wildly entertaining.

By Patty Rasmussen

In a game against the Texas Rangers Oct. 4, Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run in the 2022 MLB season, setting a new American League home run record.

By Patty Rasmussen

They look like giant marshmallows and are disliked by many NFL players, but may be just what the doctor ordered to protect them against concussions and other head injuries.

By Patty Rasmussen

Sorry to disappoint, but they won't be C-3PO's in dark slacks and chest protectors behind home plate. But 'robots' could be the future of calling balls and strikes.

By Patty Rasmussen

First of all, who is Stanley? Also, why is this trophy so dang big?

By Patty Rasmussen

Millions of us bowl every year. It's socially fun, and you can drink beer and eat while you play. But how much do you really know about the sport?

By Meg Sparwath