Jul 19, 2021 - Sports

Poll: Gymnastics is Americans' most highly anticipated Olympic sport

Data: Morning Consult; Chart: Will Chase/Axios

Gymnastics is the most highly anticipated Olympic event among U.S. adults, according to a new Morning Consult survey.

By the numbers: 62% of respondents said they were somewhat or very interested in watching gymnastics, which is headlined by Team USA's biggest star, Simone Biles.

  • Top five: Swimming (56%), diving (51%), track and field (49%) and beach volleyball (48%) round out the top five.
  • New sports: Baseball and softball (44%), back in the Games for the first time since 2008, lead the way for new events, followed by surfing (35%), karate (34%), skateboarding (34%) and sport climbing (24%).

More Olympics:

  • Positive tests: Coco Gauff is out after testing positive, two South African soccer players tested positive in the Olympic Village, and now an unnamed U.S. female gymnast has, too.
  • USA hoops: The men and women needed wins Sunday to boost morale after going a combined 1-4 in exhibitions. The women crushed Nigeria, 93-62, and the men beat Spain, 83-76. Next stop, Tokyo.

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