What is the world's most dangerous sport?

When exploring the world of sports, one question often arises: What is the most dangerous sport out there? One must consider a couple of factors such as risk of injury and the amount of adrenaline involved. Let's take a look at some of the world's most dangerous sports.

Skateboarding is arguably one of the world's most popular extreme sports. With skateboards being widely available, you just need endless concrete slaps! Nevertheless, wipeouts can lead to serious injuries while flying on the tarmac. Especially those skateboarders who enjoy 'street luging', often reaching 144km per hour (90 miles/hour). The CDC estimates that Skateboarding injuries cause 50,000 emergency department visits in the United States each year.

"In terms of mainstream team sports, it doesn't get much more dangerous than a contact sport like American football," according to the online publication Lines. Concussions are very common in the sport, alongside other injuries related to the neck and spine with long-term damage. ESPN reports there were a total of 149 registered concessions out of 271 games in the 2022 NFL season.

Much like American football, Rugby is another popular contact sport prone to injuries. While American football players have a ton of padding to protect themselves, rugby players simply play in their uniforms. According to The Guardian, more than 400 ex-rugby players died from brain injuries over the last decade.

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"We believe 400-plus rugby players across both codes, whether that's elite or amateur, have died prematurely in the last decade or so due to things led to brain damage and playing the sport," shared Bobbie Goulding during his interview for The Guardian.

White water rafting can be a great family activity but be aware there is a very high risk of injury that could result in a broken bone or worse! The rapids can overpower the raft leading to underwater collisions. Drowning in the current or banging one's head are some of the worst possible outcomes.

A bizarre sport yet very entertaining! Bull riding is very risky and often leads to very serious injuries. "Most bulls are about 800 kilos (1,800 pounds) so once you're off their backs, you are in serious trouble," according to Lines. Watch out or your next ride will be in an ambulance!

To many, MMA is the violent nasty cousin of boxing. Mixed martial arts combined with other fighting disciplines can cause some brutal combats, ultimately leading to horrible injuries. Unlike boxing, the damage is spread throughout the body leading to fewer deaths in the sport.

One of the oldest sports known to man and arguably one of the most brutal on this list. Often described as 'the sweet science', there is nothing sweet about seeing two individuals beat each other for 12 three-minute rounds unless one fighter can't continue. Boxers suffer more concentrated headshots leading to long-term brain damage, which might lead to an early death.  According to the Spanish publication AS, there have been 33 boxing deaths since 2000.

Big wave surfing is a thrilling individual sport that has grown in popularity over the last decade, attracting adrenaline junkies from all over the world. There is a thin margin of error when riding giants, but no other sport can mimic the adrenaline rush when dropping into a 30-meter (100ft) wave.

Modern technology has curved big wave surfing deaths, thanks to impact vests and other tools that prevent the surfer from drowning. Tragedies like Mark Foo at Mavericks or Todd Chesser at Hawaii represent a different era in big wave surfing where safety measures were practically nonexistent.

All gas no breaks! Motorbike racing is considered an extremely dangerous sport due to the high-speed maneuvering. Riders will hit 194km (120 miles) per hour and simply wear a leather suit to protect them should there be a crash!

Off-road biking (motocross) is just as risky due to all the obstacles and the rugged terrain, often causing riders to slip. This sport requires high levels of concentration but it's a thrill.

Much like motorbike racing, the sport involves high speeds and dangerous machinery. When looking at F1 drivers, they reach 371km (231 miles) per hour. Modern safety gear has improved drivers conditions but an impact at such high speeds can have negative consequences.

Wondering what are some of the world's most dangerous sports? Skydiving is certainly one of them. According to Lines, "there are fewer fatalities related to skydiving than most people would probably think, but the possibility is there every time you jump out of the plane thousands of feet in the air with nothing but a parachute." In 2023 alone, there were only 10 skydiving fatalities in the U.S. resulting in 0.27 fatalities per 100,000 jumps.

Rock climbing is a dynamic and exhilarating sport that involves strong mental focus, physical strength, and almost perfect technique. It is considered one of the world's most challenging sports! No one does it better than Alex Honnold, who gained widespread recognition for his remarkable free solo climbs at Yosemite National Park (California). According to Gitnux, there have been a total of 30 deaths related to climbing incidents in 2023.

Image source: Youtube - National Geographic 'Free Solo'

What do you think is the world's most dangerous sport? Have we missed any? Let us know in the comments!

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