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Every winter Olympic sport ranked by how frequently your uncle thinks ‘I could do that’

By Gabe Henderson

Mirela Rahneva of Canada competes in the first run of the women's skeleton event during the fifth of eight races within the 2017-2018 IBSF World Cup Bobsled and Skeleton series on December 15, 2017 at the Olympic ice track in Innsbruck/Igls ahead of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, which be held in February in South Korea. / AFP PHOTO / APA AND EXPA / Johann GRODER / Austria OUT (Photo credit should read JOHANN GRODER/AFP/Getty Images)
Mirela Rahneva of Canada competes in the first run of the women's skeleton event during the fifth of eight races within the 2017-2018 IBSF World Cup Bobsled and Skeleton series on December 15, 2017 at the Olympic ice track in Innsbruck/Igls ahead of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, which be held in February in South Korea. / AFP PHOTO / APA AND EXPA / Johann GRODER / Austria OUT (Photo credit should read JOHANN GRODER/AFP/Getty Images) /
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In which we consider the difficulty of every winter Olympic sport based on how many times your uncle could claim to do each sport.

The 2018 Winter Olympics are almost here, to be held in PyeongChang, South Korea beginning on Feb. 9 and running through Feb. 25.

This year, the winter games will feature 102 total events over 15 different disciplines in seven sports, including skiing, snowboarding and skating. Athletes from all across the globe will travel to South Korea to represent their countries, except for Russia, in the games. For 16 days, all eyes are on PyeongChang as the world watches and cheers their nations on. Tens of thousands of spectators will travel to the games as well. There, they will witness some of the most spectacular athletes the world has to offer.

However, not everybody has the luxury of traveling to South Korea for the Olympic games. The games are set to be broadcasted all over the world so those at home can tune in. Included in those tuning in will likely be your family — specifically, your uncle. Your uncle, or someone similarly predisposed, will mutter the most common phrase uttered by sports fans from their couches: “I could do that.”

With that in mind, here are all 15 Olympic sports ranked based on how many times your uncle mumbles “I could do that” during each event.

Germany’s Johannes Rydzek (C) competes in the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup in Ramsau am Dachstein, Austria, on December 17, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / APA / GEORG HOCHMUTH / Austria OUT (Photo credit should read GEORG HOCHMUTH/AFP/Getty Images)
Germany’s Johannes Rydzek (C) competes in the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup in Ramsau am Dachstein, Austria, on December 17, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / APA / GEORG HOCHMUTH / Austria OUT (Photo credit should read GEORG HOCHMUTH/AFP/Getty Images) /

15. Nordic combined

Part of the reason Nordic combined is last on this list is because many do not truly know what it is. The other reason being its difficulty and the realization that the Nordic combined is solely meant for the world’s best. Some ignorant fellows will still claim to be able to participate in the event. However, those of us who know what the event truly is, will not. Nordic combined is a combination of two other Olympic events: Cross-country skiing and ski jumping.

At the 2018 Olympic games, there will be three Nordic combined events with all three being for male competitors. The events are individual large hill/10 km, individual normal hill/10 km and team large hill/4 x 5 km. Competitors will be scored on their ski jumps, but timed on their cross-country skiing. This method of scoring — known as the Gundersen method — ensures the first person to cross the finish line wins the entire event. The Nordic combined is widely regarded as one of the most difficult events at the Winter Olympics — unless you’re Norway, who has medaled 30 times in the Nordic combined, more than twice that of the next country (Finland). The Nordic combined tests not only physical endurance, but speed and skill on skis.

Does your uncle still think he could do it? If not, pat him on the back and welcome him back to reality. If so, remind him the Nordic combined is timed and scored. He’d be skiing over six miles and competing in ski jumping against world-class athletes. Not so easy when you put it that way, is it?

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