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This summer’s 2024 Olympics kick off Friday, July 26, in Paris, with the City of Light hosting opening ceremonies and hoping against hope that the River Seine will be safe enough for swimming.
Dating back some 3,000-odd years, the most prominent sporting event in history began in ancient Greece, where athletes — buck-naked as a tribute to the daddy god Zeus — competed in sports like foot racing, wrestling, boxing and jumping.
Hot.
When the Romans conquered Greece in the mid-2nd century B.C., they adopted the games but abandoned all standards of excellence. Case in point: mother-killing, lyre-playing, short-tempered, weak-chinned emperor Nero entered an Olympic chariot race, was thrown off midway through and still declared himself the winner.
It was downhill and no fun from there.
Chrisitan buzzkill Emperor Theodosius I banned the games in A.D. 393 on account of their pagan origins.
The competitions were revived in the 1890s through the efforts of a certain French Capricorn named Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and hosted the first games of the modern era in Athens in 1896.
The Olympics are held every four years — and 2024 marks the third time Paris has hosted them.
It tracks that the Olympics would be held in a city known for its luminousness in the lion’s heart of showboating, win-or-die Leo season, which brings us to the Olympic sports as zodiac signs.
Astrid Bly, a premier astrologer at California Psychics, is on deck — or court, as it were — with her picks for the Olympic sport in line with the spirit of each zodiac sign. Or, for those who would rather spectate than participate, the sport each sign will enjoy watching the most this summer.
Read on to learn more.
Basketball
Bly maintains it’s balls out and hard in the paint for Aries.
“The sign of the ram is intense and focused. They are willing to do anything to achieve their goals and very little can get in their way. As such, the perfect match for them is basketball: fast-moving, popular and skillful, equally reflecting this sign’s energy and intensity.”
Lacrosse
Bly suggests that Team Taurus is a perfect match for lacrosse as both sign and sport are fond of green grass and the purposeful direction of formidable rage.
“While such an agile sport may seem odd for rooted Taurus, lacrosse requires determination, forcefulness and reliability — all traits that Taurus possesses in abundance.”
Running
Ruled by Mercury, the fleet-footed god of gossip, Geminis are born to run.
Bly expounds: “This versatile and unrestrictive sport is a wonderful fit for the sign of the twins. As an air sign, Geminis love moving fast and feeling free and are essentially allergic to sitting still. Just as each Gemini has two faces, running is divided into sprints and long-distance.”
Swimming
Water sees water, and game recognizes game.
Swimming is the sport of choice for the cardinal and card-carrying emo sign of Cancer.
As Bly explains, “This connection goes beyond elemental similarity. Passionate, heartful and easily hurt, Cancer can benefit from the peaceful, lapping water of the pool. More importantly, the crabs of the zodiac can sometimes be a bit moody, and the submerged, competitive energy of swimming lets them work those feelings out safely.”
Scream crying underwater? Get you some.
Gymnastics
Leo is ruled by the sun and lords over the fifth house of pleasure and play; as such, natives don’t shy away from a solo sport or a look-at-me, play-to-the-crowd cartwheel.
“Playful, showy, and endlessly charismatic, the best summer sport for the sign of the lion is, of course, gymnastics,” Bly explains. “One of the most popular summer sports, gymnastics, combines performance with skill and celebration, the perfect match for the vibrant lion, who loves the spotlight and has the energy to hold it.”
Tennis
With their inborn preference for clean lines and a dirt-free playing field, tennis is the sport of choice for Virgo.
Bly explains: “Whether played alone or with a team, tennis requires balance, a keen eye and patience. This makes it a wonderful fit for the sign of Virgo, who is naturally inclined toward inspiring greatness in teammates and independent enough to stand on their own.”
Rowing
As fans of sports that make them look sexy rather than sweaty, Libra and rowing are a fine pair.
“This may seem like a slightly counterintuitive match, but Libra is a sign of balance, equilibrium, rhythmic sound and mediation. Libras are especially well-known for their natural teamwork and collaboration skills. Rowing, which requires perfect synchronization, is well-suited to this Venus-ruled sign.”
Fencing
As a sign co-ruled by the planet of war and the planet of death, Scorpio, of course, requires a sport with deadly weaponry.
“Like the scorpion that is its symbol and namesake, this sign comes correct with quite the sting. Some call them manipulative, but in truth, Scorpios have a keen understanding of other people,” Bly says. “This makes fencing an excellent match for them, as this sport is all about evaluating your opponent and striking when the moment is right.”
Archery
Symbolized by the pie in the sky, shoot your shot and try your luck, arrow-wielding huntsman himself, Sagittarius is a natural fit for archery.
“This sign is straightforward, idealistic and enthusiastic, constantly cutting straight to the heart of the matter. They’re also independent and thoughtful, making the art of archery a perfect match.”
Volleyball
Ruled by Saturn, the dad planet of restriction and excellence through punishment, Capricorn sees their spirit reflected in volleyball.
As Bly explains, “Driven, with high standards and a natural propensity to keep their eye on the ball literally and figuratively, Capricorns are well-suited for the fast-paced and fiercely competitive sport of volleyball.”
Diving
It tracks that fixed air sign Aquarius, with its superiority complexes, would favor a sport that puts them (literally) above the rest, with a crowd of admirers craning their necks to get a view of its athletic splendor.
“Aquarius is a sign noted for its unique perspective,” Bly says. “Freedom-loving and clever, water-bearers are keen to forge their own path forward.”
Cycling
As mutable water, Pisces people easily and often absorb the energy of those around them. Bly explains that this empathetic sponging can lead to burnout.
“Because of this natural connection to the world and the people in it, the Pisces-born often need time to recharge and sort out their own emotions without any interference from the outside world. As such, sports that allow some alone time — as well as enable some truly beautiful views — are a great fit for them, which makes biking a lovely fit.”
Astrology 101: Your guide to the star
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience.
