For almost two weeks, the world watched as dozens of athletes tested their physical limits and competed for the coveted gold, silver and bronze medals at the Olympic Games in Paris.

But those of us watching each sport from the comfort of our sofas may be wondering which sport burns the most calories? And how does an Olympian’s sport compare to a workout at the gym?

To find out which Olympic sport burns the most calories, Dr Donald Grant, GP and senior clinical advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, looked at different sports and compared them to common fitness exercises such as cardio and weight lifting.

He also took into account new disciplines introduced at this year’s Olympics, including breakdancing and surfing.

He said: “Olympic sports often involve high-intensity workouts that provide a variety of physical benefits, helping to burn calories and maintain shape.

“New to this year’s event are disciplines such as surfing and breakdancing – but which sports burn the most calories and how do these new sports compare?”

Dr. Grant found that triathlon burns the most calories: an Olympic-distance triathlon burns a whopping 2,500 to 3,500 calories.

Regard: ‘Amazing’ British crocheters spread Olympic joy with mailbox covers

The Olympic triathlon format consists of 1,500 m swimming, 40 km cycling and 10 km running, so it’s no surprise that athletes burn enormous amounts of calories in the process.

Other Olympic sports that burn the most calories include:

1. Triathlon: 2,500–3,500 calories

2. Boxing: 600–800 calories

3. 1,500 m freestyle swimming: 150–350 calories

4. 10,000 m run: 400-600 calories

5. Breakdance: 600 calories

6. Skateboarding: 500 calories

7. Surfing: 600 calories

According to Dr. Grant, to burn the same number of calories as you would in a gym workout, you would need to burn the following number of calories:

Triathlon

“One of the toughest and most demanding sports is undoubtedly the triathlon – a race consisting of three parts in which athletes must cycle, race and then swim to reach the finish line. This year both the men’s and women’s races lasted less than two hours, which underlines the intensity of this event.

“In terms of calories, an Olympic length triathlon burns about 2,500 to 3,000 calories, which is equivalent to 3.5 to 5 hours of high-intensity cardio at the gym. This event is by far one of the most physically demanding when you consider length, activity and calorie burn.”

Boxing

“Another physically demanding Olympic discipline is boxing. This sport is extremely accessible and a popular part of many people’s training regimens. It’s easy to see why, as an hour of boxing can burn around 600 to 800 calories per hour, making it a great way to lose weight or stay fit.

“In the gym, this is equivalent to one hour of high-intensity interval training or one hour of cycling – with both exercise activities resulting in a similar calorie loss.”

1,500 m freestyle swimming

“Throughout the Olympic Games, spectators are treated to a wide variety of swimming events and competitions. Due to the total distance, the 1500-meter freestyle burns the most calories of all swimming events, approximately 150-350 calories in total.

“The intensity and distance make the 1500m freestyle an effective race for staying fit – it tests the endurance of Olympians. In the gym, half an hour of intense weight lifting or 30 minutes of high-intensity cardio will burn around 300-350 calories.”

10,000-meter run

“From a cardiovascular perspective, the 10,000-meter race is a real test of Olympians’ ability to sustain pace over a long distance – it consists of 25 laps of an Olympic-sized track.

“Throughout the race, participants can expect to burn about 400 to 600 calories, with the amount varying depending on weight. This is equivalent to about an hour of swimming or 45 to 60 minutes of high-intensity cardio training.”

Break dancing

“One of the most eagerly awaited new disciplines is breakdancing. This is a high-intensity workout in which dancers test their technique, originality and musicality, among other things. This new sport can burn around 600 calories per hour at the highest intensity. That’s about the equivalent of an hour of intense cardio training in the gym.”

Skateboarding

“Next, skateboarding requires a lot of physical effort to maintain balance and perform impressive tricks. An hour of trick skateboarding can be extremely beneficial and burn around 500 calories. That’s equivalent to an hour of intense weight lifting at the gym.”

surfing

“After all, surfing remains a relatively new discipline even after its debut in 2020. This water sport requires surfers to dominate the waves and perform tricks to earn points for their respective countries. Intense surfing can be a great way to save calories, as you burn about 600 per hour.

“Overall, there are some great events this year that will put athletes to the test through intense workouts. Those trying to replicate the exercises at home can mimic the number of calories lost by doing an hour of specific fitness exercises such as high-intensity cardio or weight lifting.”

Read more about sports and health: