Every two years, sports around the world turn their attention to the global stage and the biggest competition in professional sports: the Olympics. This year, from February 6 to February 22, the 25th Winter Olympic Games are being hosted in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. 

While the Olympics are a nationally respected and celebrated event, the question is which of these many sports is going to be the one most watched by Woodland students and families. According to a poll conducted on the Hawk Headlines Instagram, there were three sports that stuck out the most: figure skating, skiing and hockey. 

In third place, for the bronze medal for Woodland viewers is hockey. A popular winter sport in itself, especially when it comes to the large audience of the National Hockey League (NHL), takes to the larger stage at the Olympics. When fast skating meets loud cheering, everyone is sure to come together to watch hockey at this year’s Olympics. 

Then, bringing home silver, the second most watched Olympic sport is skiing. Whether you enjoy the jump and trick runs, the longer cross country skiing events or fast downhill skiing there is something for everyone to enjoy when it comes to this winter sport. 

Meaning that the most popular sport to be watched by Woodland fans with the gold medal is figure skating. This sport culminates many into one: the ability to fly high for tricks like a cheerleader, the balance required like a gymnast, and the ability to skate fast like a hockey player. This sport draws the fans in because of the variety of skills, the pretty costumes, and the technical abilities of the athletes. 

So, that rounds out the top three winter Olympic sports that are sure to be the most watched by Woodland fans this year. No matter what sport you are watching, they all have unique elements, loud cheering, and enthusiastic fans that make it so exciting to watch your favorite sports.