If you, like me, think some of the events in this year's Olympics are a little questionable ( say like the trampoline ??? ) ... Check out some of these from the past !!! They were real events !!!

In modern Olympic rules, a team of eight had to pull the opposition six feet to win, but if no such drama had occurred after five minutes, the side who had pulled their opponents the furthest triumphed. 

Motor Boating
1908

There were three categories - the eight-metre, 60-foot and open class - and average speeds were almost funeral, hovering around the underwhelming 19mph mark.

Club Swinging
1904, 1932

An event that involved swinging a club festooned with ribbons very quickly around the body and head, in a complicated routine.

Solo Synchronized Swimming
This exercise in stupidity sneaked its way on to the O-list in 1984, only to be cast out in 1992. Perhaps this had something to do with the fact that one lonely person floating in a pool could never, would never, be in sync with anyone else (pedants maintain that it's the choreography that is synchronised with the music).

Tumbling
1932

Rope Climb
1896, 1904, 1906, 1924, 1932

How long is a piece of string? In this case, anywhere between 7.62m and 14m, depending on which year you were competing. The object of the 'climb' was to get to the top of your rope. This was no easy task: only two of the 1896 climbers made it to the summit, prompting officials to send the rope back for alterations. Yet whatever the length of the rope, this event was a crowd-pleaser.

Live Pigeon Shooting
1900

Pistol Duelling
1906

Before Olympic anoraks start writing letters, we know the 1906 Intercalated games don't count as an official Olympiad (see Rationale). But this one entry is too good to leave out. Instead of shooting at each other, participants shot at dummies in fancy frock coats with a bullseye embroidered on the chest. 

Long Jump for Horses
1900

Yes, this was an event for horses, although it is not clear whether they ever mounted the podium to collect their own medals.