5 Olympic Sports That Burn The Most Calories- Ranked By Experts

Updated Jan 17, 2025 | 02:47 PM IST

SummaryBurning calories depends on activity type, intensity, and duration. High-intensity activities like sprinting and marathon running consume significant energy. For example, sprinting can burn up to 91 kcal/kg/hour, while endurance events like marathons burn more overall.
5 Olympic Sports That Burn the Most Calories- Ranked by Experts

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Whether it is sprinting down a track, swimming through waves, or pedaling at breakneck speeds, different activities require different expenditures of energy. Some sports call for short, explosive bursts of power, while others test endurance over hours. The number of calories burned depends on the sport, intensity, and the athlete's unique physiology. Most Calorie-Intensive Olympic Sports : Provides a peek into the physical demands faced by athletes as well as inspiration for anyone looking to gain insight into energy use in peak performance.

The Olympics witness over 200 countries competing in more than 300 events, one can't help but wonder: which Olympic sport demands the most from the body in terms of calories burned? While every event requires exceptional physical and mental fortitude, some sports stand out as calorie-torching powerhouses. Let's break it down.

Understanding calorie burn begins with the metric of kcal/kg/hour — calories burned per kilogram of body weight per hour. To put this into perspective, an average adult weighing 185 pounds (84 kg) burns 1 kcal/kg/hour while at rest. Activities that exceed 6 kcal/kg/hour are classified as "vigorous" by the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. However, the caloric expenditure of Olympic sports depends on two key factors:

1. The energy surge or intensity needed in a particular moment.

2. The absolute amount of energy used throughout the period of an event.

Does Running Burn Calories?

Running, especially sprinting and marathons, takes the cake in burning calories. Sprinting is all about short bursts of high intensity, and therefore requires explosive energy. For example, a study by a physiology expert, Pietro di Prampero, reveals that in the first 0.85 seconds of the world record by Usain Bolt in the 100-meter sprint, he burnt 91.2 kcal/kg/hour.

But over all, marathons win sprints because marathons consume more energy in totality. The energy consumption per kilometer by long-distance running is approximately 1 kcal/kg. Thus, for a marathon, which runs 42 kilometers, the energy consumption will be about 42 kcal/kg.

Let's consider Eliud Kipchoge, who won the Tokyo 2020 marathon gold. At 115 pounds (52 kg), he must have burned about 2,339 calories for his 2-hour, 8-minute run, translating to 21 kcal/kg/hour.

Also Read: How Many Calories Does Walking 12,000 Steps Burn? Tips For Reaching Your Goal

Is Swimming An Silent Calorie Crusher?

Swimming is compared to running in terms of expenditure as caloric demands can vary with stroke, environment, and skill of the athlete. One study, for example was published in 2006 in the International Journal of Sports Medicine and calculated that at a swim speed of 1.6 m/s breaststroke burns 30.4 kcal/kg/hour.

Environmental factors, such as waves and cooler water temperatures, also make open-water swimming a demanding endeavor; still, strategies, such as drafting-in swimming, allows one to swim with less water resistance behind another swimmer. One reported that Michael Phelps burned more than 5,000 calories each day in the height of training, and explains his fabled 10,000-calorie diet.

  • Cycling: At speed greater than 20 mph or 32 km/h, cycling is calorically costly, using 16.8 kcal/kg/hour. Competitive cycling has sustained intensity that makes it one of the most calorically expensive sports.
  • Rowing: The racing speeds in rowing clock in at 15.5 kcal/kg/hour, which shows that rowing requires full-body muscular demand and cardiovascular endurance.
  • Martial arts burn 10.5 kcal/kg/hour, while competitive trampolining lags slightly at 10.3 kcal/kg/hour, due to the explosive jumps and flips involved.

How Short Bursts of Energy Help Burn More Calories?

Sports that require short, intense bursts of energy — sprinting, soccer, or pole vaulting, for example — stimulate an increased post-exercise calorie burn. Known as excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), this phenomenon means athletes burn calories at a higher rate even after the activity ends.

A study indicates that doing five 30 seconds of high intensity exercise burns the extra 200 calories a day. This fits the reason for sprinters appearing with more muscles yet lower percentages of fats compared to those who run marathon.

Sprint vs. Distance: Endurance vs. Explosiveness

Marathons and triathlons are among the longest periods of calorie burn because of extended exertion. US runner Galen Rupp, who completed a marathon in 2:06, would burn approximately 20.6 calories per minute for a total of 2,596 calories. Olympic marathon swimmers swim equivalent distances and durations, so it is likely they burn similar amounts of calories since water resistance and cooler temperatures should equate the two.

In contrast, sports like sprints and pole vault focus on explosiveness, making them metabolically intense in short bursts but less demanding in total energy.

For Olympic athletes, caloric expenditure is important both for performance and recovery. Not consuming enough calories risks losing muscles, hormonal imbalances, and weaker bones. Excessive calorie intake, on the other hand, leads to laziness. High-precision nutrition is therefore the key to attaining the most optimal energy levels and peak performance.

So, Which Olympic Sport Consumes the Highest Number of Calories?

Whereas running has taken the day regarding momentary and total calorie burn, swimming could possibly take the first spot because it engages all of the body, which demands tougher training programs. Events like marathons and triathlons require consistency in endurance while sprinting, rowing, and martial arts offer shorter intervals for high intensity calorie burn.

In the end, each Olympic sport is a demonstration of what the human body can do, taken to an extreme that is both amazing and calorie-burning.

Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. 2018

2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities. Journal of Sport and Health Science. 2024

Evaluation of the Energy Expenditure in Competitive Swimming Strokes. Int J Sports Med. 2006

The energy cost of sprint running and the role of metabolic power in setting top performances. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2015

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Seniors, Pay Attention! Walking Just 4,000 Steps Once a Week Can Significantly Lower Your Risk of Early Death

Updated Oct 22, 2025 | 10:36 AM IST

SummaryA Harvard-led study found that older women who walked at least 4,000 steps on one or two days a week had a 26% lower risk of death and 27% lower risk of heart disease. More steps further improved longevity, showing that even occasional activity can significantly benefit seniors’ health. Read on.
Seniors, Pay Attention! Walking Just 4,000 Steps Once a Week Can Significantly Lower Your Risk of Early Death

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Walking has a lot of benefits, we already know that. However, how much should one walk? a recent study among older people revealed that if seniors could achieve a 4,000 steps goal in one to two days in a week, they would lower their risk of early deaths by a quarter.

This study was led by Harvard University, and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

What Did the Study Find About Older People's Health And Walking?

We all know that staying active brings great health benefits. In fact, Health and Me also covered how walking and staying active could lower the risk of dementia. Until now, however, it was unclear how much should one walk.

With this recent study, researchers found that achieving 4,000 steps per day on one or two days a week could lower risk of death and lower risk of cardiovascular disease, (CVD), as compared to not reaching this level on any day.

How Was The Study That Analyzed Older People's Walking And Its Impact On Health Conducted?

The study analyzed 13,547 American women, who were over the age of 62, with the average being 72. All of them were given trackers for seven consecutive days, between 2011 and 2015. These people were followed for over a decade. None of them had heart disease or cancer at the beginning of the study.

While they were being monitored in the end of 2024, 1,756 women died and 781 developed heart disease.

The study found that those who clocked up at least 4,000 steps a day on one or two days of the week had 26% lower risk of death from all causes, and a 27% lower risk of dying from heart diseases. This was as compared to those who did not reach this threshold on any day of the week. The study further saw that those who achieved the step count for three days of the week, their lower risk of death from any cause increased by 40%, however for CVD related deaths, it remained at 27%.

Takeaways And Limitations

The researchers said that while the most important take away was that people would now have an amount to walk. However, it is important to note that the study was observational, with no firm conclusion, and was done only on women, and assessed for only one week.

The researchers agreed that there is no "best" way to take your steps. The key is to just ensure that you are getting your steps in. "A greater number of steps, regardless of daily patterns, is associated with better health outcomes." The study saw that on an average, women took 5,615 steps a day.

While there were limitations, but the researchers still added, "An important translational implication of these findings is that since step volume is the important driver of the inverse associations, there is no ‘better’ or ‘best’ pattern to take steps; individuals can undertake [physical activity] in any preferred pattern (eg ‘slow and steady’ v ‘bunched patterns’) for lower mortality and CVD risk, at least among older women. These findings provide additional evidence for considering including step metrics in the next [physical activity] guidelines, and that ‘bunching’ steps is a viable option for health.”

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We Asked Doctors If There Was Any Truth In The Claim That Stronger Thighs Make You Live Longer, Here's What We Found

Updated Oct 20, 2025 | 10:00 AM IST

SummaryDoctors say thigh strength can indicate overall health and longevity, especially in men, as strong legs improve balance, metabolism, and mobility. However, claims that hip replacement patients live only five to six years are exaggerated. Experts stress maintaining overall muscle and bone strength, not just thighs, for healthy aging. Read on to know the whole truth.
We Asked Doctors If There Was Any Truth In The Claim That Stronger Thighs Make You Live Longer, Here's What We Found

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Last week, Health and Me did a fact check, quoting previously done studies and citing other health experts on actor Ram Kapoor’s recent remarks about thigh strength and longevity. His remarks have sparked widespread curiosity. In a viral video, Kapoor claimed that stronger thigh muscles could help predict how long a person might live, even adding that older adults who fall and need a hip replacement often live only “five to six years” afterward.

While Health and Me did fact check, we decided to look deeper into it and ask doctors of what they think of this claim?

Read: Fact Check: Do Stronger Thigh Muscles Really Mean That You Live Longer?

Thigh Strength and Longevity: What Doctors Say

According to Dr. M S Somanna, Sr. Consultant, Joint Replacement & Arthroscopic Surgery, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, there is some truth to the idea that thigh strength can reflect overall longevity, particularly in men. “Strong thigh muscles indicate better overall muscle mass, balance, and mobility,” he says. “These factors are important for preventing falls, fractures, and joint problems as people age.”

He adds that weak thigh muscles often signal lower physical activity and slower metabolism, both of which increase risks for conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and bone loss. “Studies have shown that people with stronger leg muscles tend to live longer and stay independent for longer,” he says. “Simple exercises like walking, squats, and cycling can go a long way in maintaining thigh strength and improving joint health.”

Echoing this, Dr. Dheeraj Batheja, Consultant, Orthospine, Orthopaedics & Spine Surgery, Artemis Hospitals, agrees that strong legs are a good indicator of vitality. “Strength in the lower body shows how fit, energetic and balanced your metabolism is,” he explains. “Keeping your thigh muscles strong helps you stay balanced, move around, and remain independent as you get older.”

In other words, it’s not the size of the thigh that predicts lifespan, it’s what that strength represents: good muscle mass, stable balance, and cardiovascular resilience.

The “5–6 Years After Hip Replacement” Claim: Fact or Fear Mongering?

Kapoor’s claim that older adults who undergo hip replacement surgery live only five to six years afterward is an overstatement, experts say.

Dr. Batheja calls the statement “an oversimplification.” He explains, “Hip fractures in older adults are indeed serious and can increase the risk of death, especially within the first year. But the time someone lives after hip replacement varies widely depending on their overall health, pre-existing conditions, and recovery support. It is not scientifically proven that someone will live only five to six years.”

Dr. Somanna agrees. “While it’s true that hip fractures at 80 can seriously affect mobility and independence, many older patients recover well and live much longer with proper physiotherapy, nutrition, and care,” he says. “So, while the concern is valid, it sounds more like fear mongering than a medical fact.”

Do Thigh Muscles Matter More Than Any Other?

Both doctors emphasize that while the femur and thigh muscles are crucial for standing, walking, and balance, they don’t work alone. “Overall muscle and bone strength, including the back, hips, and core, are equally important for stability and healthy aging,” says Dr. Somanna. Dr. Batheja adds, “To live a long time, you need to keep your whole body strong and your bones dense, not just your thighs."

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Fact Check: Do Stronger Thigh Muscles Really Mean That You Live Longer?

Updated Oct 16, 2025 | 12:07 PM IST

SummaryWith social media turning everyone into a fitness guru, not all health claims online stand true. A viral video featuring actor Ram Kapoor, who lost 55 kg naturally, has sparked curiosity about an unusual link between thigh strength and longevity — but how much of it is actually true? Read on.
Fact Check: Do Stronger Thigh Muscles Really Mean That You Live Longer?

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Thanks to social media, now every one is a fitness influencer. However, not everything people say on social media is true, nevertheless social media did benefit many, allowing easy access on health and fitness. But whatever we see on the platform must be always taken with a pinch of salt.

One such video which is trending is of actor Ram Kapoor, who once was 140kg and then went on to lose 55kgs in 18 months. He has, ever since become an inspiration for many to lose weight naturally. As per him, having two simple meals a day and intermittent fasting principles helped him. Now, as somebody who influence people achieving their own fitness goals, especially that he himself has experienced it, he does not shy away from talking about it.

Also Read: Is Huntington’s Disease Genetic? Here’s Everything You Should Know

In one such conversation, he reveals that people in the insurance industry hire insurance experts to predict the age of a person and when he is going to die. One such man is Gary Brecka, a human biologist, and expert in science of human performance. Kapoor says, "He has an 82% accurate record in predicting one's longevity, based on the last 5 years of their life history."

Kapoor also notes that now he uses this experience he has gained from insurance industry to help people lead a better and healthy life.

"Do you know how he correlates the age till one will live?" Kapoor asks, "Through your thigh muscles."

Kapoor says that the stronger your thigh muscle is, the longer you will live. "When you sit, you need this muscle to get up. In India, everyone makes an upper body, but you do not need biceps to stand up," he said.

"Secondly, when you are 80 years old, it is very easy to trip and fall and if your leg muscles are not strong, you will have to have a hip replacement surgery, which is the beginning of the end. The person who underwent that surgery could only live for 5 to 6 years more."

Are Thighs Really The Key Predictor Of Longevity?

This is not the first time someone is talking about how thighs can help someone predict their age of living. Simon Sinek, an American author, international speaker, and more, also seconds this theory.

"Historically, thighs are the most important muscle responsible for notion." However, he correlates it with friendship. He says before cars, if you had to go meet a friend you would take a train or walk, which will put your thigh muscles at work, this means you have friends and to meet them you are mobile, "which means you are more likely to live longer".

Is There Any Truth In This?

While stronger thigh muscles could be one of the key predictors, the reason is not because it means you have a friendship or that a hip replacement surgery would only let you live 5 to 6 years afterwards.

As per the Harvard Health Publishing, researchers found that people with big thighs had a lower risk of heart diseases and premature death than those with thick thighs.

Also Read: What Does Trump's Latest Health Checkup Reveal About Him?

The real reason is because stronger thigh muscles, or leg muscles reduce risk of all cause and heart-relate mortality. In men, specifically, it could predict the age for how long do they live, notes a 2011 study published in Author Manuscript. Strong thighs improve stability, reduce risk of falls. This also supports daily functional activities, which seems to have reduced as age progresses. Also subcutaneous fat in thighs can provide protective effects for bone and bone strength and cardiovascular health, also notes Dr Kunal Sood, MD, and double board certified anesthesiology and international pain medicine, based in Maryland, US.

Note: The information in this article is based solely on observations and insights from the referenced videos. It does not, in any way, claim to define or predict a specific lifespan for anyone.

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