PHOTO COURTESY CHICAGO BOAT CO. With the medal competitions finished in Paris, a growing call for pickleball to be added pales in comparison to the justifications for fishing to become included in the Olympics.
The Olympics celebrate athleticism and skill, and reflect global unity. With its long and rich history, worldwide participation and alignment with the spirit of the Olympic Games, fishing is long overdue for a place on the Olympic stage.
Recent moves to attract new audiences for the Olympics have already added such sports as skateboarding and breakdancing. Other sports that will make debut at the 2028 games in Los Angeles include baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash.
Now, those sports may merit inclusion. But compared with fishing, the push for a game that’s a mix of tennis and ping-pong played with a wiffleball and paddles is a head-scratcher of Olympic proportion. Proponents claim there are 13.6 million pickleball players in the United States. Here’s a news flash: That’s nothing compared with the whopping 54.5-plus-million anglers in this country. And while pickleball isn’t worldwide, fishing is definitely global.
In fact, fishing is one of humanity’s oldest activities, dating back thousands of years. From the ancient Egyptians and Greeks to modern civilizations, fishing has been a fundamental part of life and culture. It’s a practice that embodies skill, patience, use of equipment and a profound respect for nature. It’s estimated more than 300 million people engage in fishing globally. Moreover, a 50-plus-million anglers from 78 nations fish competitively.
The push for Olympic inclusion is being led by USAngling and the Confederation Internationale de Peche Sportive. And if fishing is recognized by the International Olympic Committee, it would be eligible for both the Summer and Winter Games.
Boating industry stakeholders, tackle manufacturers, tournament organizations and anglers in general are supporters of USAngling, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. A concentrated effort can make the Olympics quest happen. Right now, America’s top anglers are competing on the global stage and winning world championships, including three consecutive world titles by USA Bass Team, several world titles for the USA Fly Fishing Youth Team, and a recent Pan American Games gold medal by the USA Saltwater Kayak Fishing Team.
The stakes for the marine industry are big. Inclusion in the Olympics would provide a global platform for fishing, inspiring new generations to engage with the sport and appreciate its values.
Moreover, the Olympic stage would elevate fishing from a personal or regional activity to a celebrated global sport. It would create opportunities for cultural exchange and dialog, uniting people from diverse backgrounds through a shared passion.
USAngling is our home for world championship and Pan American championship angling. It represents four fly-fishing sports, three saltwater sports and one casting sport.
Take a minute and check out more details and information on how to support, sponsor or volunteer for USAngling, its tournaments and teams.
