Tug-of-war pulled through for five editions of the Olympic Games, from the Paris 1900 festivities until Antwerp 1920 (the 1916 ceremony was canceled due to World War I). Only men were permitted to partake, and individual countries were allowed to enter multiple teams. Contests lasted five minutes apiece, with teams attempting to drag their opponents 6 feet from their starting point. If neither team reached the threshold, whichever one came closer emerged victorious.
The first tug-of-war gold medal went to a coalition of athletes from Sweden and Denmark. But Great Britain enjoyed the best tally overall, winning five medals in tug-of-war, including two golds — edging out the United States and its three pieces of hardware. Ultimately, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) eliminated tug-of-war after the 1920 Olympics when they decided to be more selective with their sports. Today, while campaigning for matches to be reclassified as Olympic-worthy, the Tug of War International Federation admits men, women, and juniors at various weight classes from more than 70 nations. Tug-of-war is also part of the World Games, a quadrennial showcase for sports that are not featured in the Olympics, such as bowling, kickboxing, and trampoline gymnastics.
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