This is an extremely underrated sport. Ice hockey may be better on television, but a field hockey game has more excitement and action than pretty much every single pro soccer game. Yet the scores aren’t sky high, and that’s something that works in field hockey’s advantage. It can deliver on the excitement while still being very low-scoring. Unfortunately, no man in America has ever played, seen, or even heard of field hockey, and as a result, it’s never on TV during the Olympics, unless the women’s team pulls off a miracle run.

Tokyo 2020 results:

Medal	Men
Gold	Belgium
Silver	Australia
Bronze	India
Medal	Women
Gold	Netherlands
Silver	Argentina
Bronze	Great Britain

Outlook (as of June 20, 2023):

I’m doing this too early, as the qualifying tournaments aren’t even close to getting started. However, I *can* base my picks off world rankings, and then change them as we get closer to the Games. Forgive me if I sound naive, but I don’t know anything about who’s good and who isn’t at field hockey. I can watch the sport and enjoy it, but I couldn’t tell you who is the best at it. I know India once ruled this sport, and that Pakistan used to be pretty good at it too. As for now? I’m just believing the world rankings.

2024 projections:

Medal	Men
Gold	Netherlands
Silver	Belgium
Bronze	Great Britain
Medal	Women
Gold	Netherlands
Silver	Australia
Bronze	Argentina

Projected medal count:

Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
Netherlands	2	0	0	2
Australia	0	1	0	1
Belgium	0	1	0	1
Argentina	0	0	1	1
Great Britain	0	0	1	1

Most sports in the Olympics, I don’t have a clue who’s good and who isn’t other than from 1) world rankings or 2) world championships. Can you blame me? Handball is one of the best sports in the world, but for whatever reason it never caught on in America. I *love* this sport. I play the Handball 21 video game despite all of its flaws. Handball is awesome, and it should be more popular than soccer.

Tokyo 2020 results:

Medal	Men
Gold	France
Silver	Denmark
Bronze	Spain
Medal	Women
Gold	France
Silver	Russia
Bronze	Norway

Men’s outlook (as of June 13, 2023):

My first response is to go with who won it last time. Then I go to the home nation. As it turns out, both are one and the same! France swept in Tokyo, so you’d figure they’d repeat in Paris.

But in the 2023 World Men’s Handball Championship, Denmark beat France for the gold. Otherwise, it was the same three teams winning the medals. So, do I go with the defending champs? Do I go with the home team? Do I go with the world champs? Well, as Meat Loaf said, two out of three ain’t bad.

2024 projections:

Medal	Men
Gold	France
Silver	Denmark
Bronze	Spain

Women’s outlook (as of June 13, 2023):

These will most likely change after the World Women’s Handball Championship this December. For the moment, I’m going to project the same gold medalists, but some differences below.

Update (June 26, 2024):

I’m sticking with France as champions, but what with Norway winning the 2023 World Championship, I’ve bumped them up, and added 2022 European champion Denmark.

2024 projections:

Medal	Women
Gold	France
Silver	Norway
Bronze	Denmark

Projected medal count:

Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
France	2	0	0	2
Denmark	0	1	1	1
Norway	0	1	0	1
Spain	0	0	1	1

Perhaps no team sport at the Olympics is as exciting as rugby sevens. If you like American football, you’ll love rugby sevens. It’s fast-paced with lots of action, hitting, nifty running, passing, and even some kicking. I’ve fallen in love with this sport thanks to the past two Olympics and Olympic video games.

Tokyo 2020 results:

Medal	Men
Gold	Fiji
Silver	New Zealand
Bronze	Argentina
Medal	Women
Gold	New Zealand
Silver	France
Bronze	Fiji

2024 outlook (as of June 11, 2023):

It all comes down to New Zealand and Fiji. Those are the world powers in rugby, and it’s hard to pick one over the other. For that reason, I’m splitting the golds and silvers between the two. I may be wrong in all four slots, but I still think that Fiji will take home one gold and one silver, and so will New Zealand.

How about the bronzes? Great Britain, in my mind, is the biggest threat; they finished fourth in both tournaments two years ago. France may make a run at home, and the United States is a slight contender. Ultimately, my projections don’t look all that different from last time’s.

Update (June 25, 2024):

It looks as if Great Britain’s men’s team has fallen off a bit in the World Rugby Series. Therefore, I’m going to change my bronze medal pick over to Argentina. In the women’s tournament, Fiji’s fallen off a bit, so I’m going to bump up France and add in Australia. Sorry, USA, I want you to win, but the competition’s just too fierce.

2024 projections:

Medal	Men
Gold	Fiji
Silver	New Zealand
Bronze	Great Britain
Medal	Women
Gold	New Zealand
Silver	France
Bronze	Australia

Projected medal count:

Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
New Zealand	1	1	0	2
Fiji	1	0	0	1
France	0	1	0	1
Great Britain	0	0	1	1
Australia	0	0	1	1

Don’t get me wrong; I like soccer. But I feel there are ways to make the sport better. The number one change I’d make is eliminating penalty kick shootouts deciding elimination matches. Make it “golden goal” extra time, sudden-death overtime, whatever you want to call it. Only one goal is scored in extra time, and the team that scores it is the winner. Why not? After all, ice hockey has the best overtime in all of sports. You hold your breath for 20 minutes, exhale for a few, then hold it again as double overtime begins.

Tokyo 2020 results:

Medal	Men
Gold	Brazil
Silver	Spain
Bronze	Mexico
Medal	Women
Gold	Canada
Silver	Sweden
Bronze	United States

Men’s outlook (as of June 11, 2023):

Remember: the men’s soccer tournament at the Olympics is under-23 plus three players over 23. As I write this, only three nations have officially qualified – France, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. That’s what makes picking this so hard. I’ll have a better knowledge of it come mid-July, after Europe and Africa have qualified three teams each. For now, though, I’m going to bet big on France, since they’re at home, they’re already in, and they’re always good.

Update (June 25, 2024):

Brazil apparently did not qualify. That gives the USA a real shot at getting a bronze, which would be amazing for soccer in this country. But I know better than to pin my hopes on USA Soccer! Instead, I’ll bet on a South American team to join France and Spain on the podium.

2024 projections:

Medal	Men
Gold	France
Silver	Spain
Bronze	Argentina

Women’s 2024 outlook (as of June 11, 2023):

The United States have won four gold medals, but none since 2012. They’re already qualified for Paris, though, and they’ll be heavy favorites, likely coming off a massive World Cup win. If they don’t win the World Cup… then I’m still picking them. Unlike with the men, the women’s Olympic event is still a big deal, and I wouldn’t doubt the USA’s ability to focus in on winning a tournament that could bring even more attention to women’s sports.

Update (June 25, 2024):

Looks like the World Cup didn’t turn out to be all roses for the USWNT. That’s okay, though, because it only fuels the fire for Paris. The USWNT has something to prove. They are out for revenge. Thus, my prediction isn’t changing, but rather staying the same.

2024 projections:

Medal	Women
Gold	United States
Silver	France
Bronze	Brazil

Projected medal count:

Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
France	1	1	0	2
United States	1	0	0	1
Spain	0	1	0	1
Argentina	0	0	1	1
Brazil	0	0	1	1