A modest proposal for Olympic medal awesomeness

It’s nothing new to point out that some Olympic sports provide more opportunities for athletes to collect medals than others. As I watch gymnastics, there are the individual events, all-round competion, and team competition. Swimming has multiple strokes, combinations of strokes, distances, and team relays. Even top track athletes can do multiple distances and throw in a relay.

Meanwhile, athletes in team sports play multiple games over a week or two and can only leave with a single medal. I say it’s high time we change that, and add some must-watch events for future Olympics.

First of all, a slam dunk contest instantly becomes the most viewed event at the Games. Give each team one or two entries, run some heats, and put the final in prime time. Just the insider stories about how the US representatives are selected will keep the sports media busy for a couple of news cycles. How about adding another layer of roster selection debate? Should Zach Levine get Harrison Barnes’ spot? Let the hot takes begin!

While we’re still on basketball, we might as well throw in a three point contest, but I’m drawing the line at the shooting stars event. A horse event would be pretty cool as well.

Golf can add a long drive contest and bring back the skills competition that NBC used to air between PGA seasons.

Boxing could add the hardest punch contest and tennis the hardest serve.

Soccer could add trick shots, introducing a panel of judges to score artistic merit, execution, and degree of difficulty.

Really, this is all just a pitch to add an Olympic dunk contest for Tokyo 2020. IOC, let’s get on this.