Now that the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics are ending in Gangwon Province, South Korea, let’s turn our attention to sporty anime girls. The Winter Youth Olympics are geared toward high school-age athletes. There’s nothing better than a girl who can outpace us in sports. The real sporty girls, skilled and buff enough to compete in Olympic sports, can pin us to the ground any day. We’ve checked the rankings and picked five sporty girls on pace to win a gold medal. You, the cultured otaku, can choose who stands on the first-place platform.
1. Sakura Hagiwara (Wanna Be the Strongest in the World!)
Wrestling is a fine sport to engage in regardless of temperature. Sakura didn’t set out to become an Olympic sports-level wrestler. In fact, she didn’t have any interest in sports. Sakura had achieved her dream of becoming a famous idol when she joined Sweet Diva. However, her goals changed when the female wrestler Rio Kazama assaulted fellow Sweet Diva member Elena Miyazawa. Sakura joins the Berserk Wrestlers team to get revenge and proves to have a natural talent. It’s good she chose a sport that would keep someone warm even during the Winter Games.
ESE and Kiyohito Natsuki created their original Wanna Be the Strongest in the World! (Sekai de Ichiban Tsuyoku Naritai!) manga series. Earth Star Entertainment published five volumes in Comic Earth Star from March 12th, 2011, to December 12th, 2013.
2. Kazane Aoba (Keijo!!!!!!!!)
Keijo is mostly a fictional sport that can be done in real life. It’s best to play it during the summer, though. The players need swimsuits and non-frozen water to play, so it shouldn’t be attempted during the Winter Games. Keijo Sports girls can be some of the thiccest around. Though shy and self-conscious about her accent, this sports girl can move her hips with the best of them. Kazane can copy special abilities used by others by touching their butts, a skill called “Scanning Hand.” Combined with her keen strategic mind, she becomes a force to be reckoned with. Olympic sports would be far more interesting if Keijo were made into a real sport. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend them for the Winter Olympics, but watching them during the winter should warm things up. They should definitely be in the Summer Games in July, though.
Joe has written extensive reviews of Keijo!!!!!!!!.
Daichi Sorayomi wrote and illustrated the Keijo!!!!!!!! manga series. Shogakukan published eighteen volumes in Weekly Shonen Sunday between July 24th, 2013, and April 26th, 2017.
3. Claire Thomas (Harukana Receive)
Volleyball is another game that’s tailor-made for the Summer Games. Swimsuits and the like aren’t meant to be worn during the winter. Claire and her twin sister Emily are foreign exchange students at Urama High School. These twins — who make up Team Éclair — are among the top world-ranked junior beach volleyball players. Claire knows she has an eye-catching figure. Which is why her swimsuit is a tactical choice. She quickly becomes best friends with Haruka Ozora. I can’t wait to watch volleyball during the Summer Games.
Nyoijizai wrote and illustrated the original Harukana Receive manga. Houbunsha published ten volumes in Manga Time Kirara Forward from August 24th, 2015, to September 24th, 2020.
4. Misa Aoi (Kandagawa Jet Girls)
Waterski racing — with or without jets — should not be played in winter. This is a summer game. Misa is partnered with Rin Namiki and acts as her team’s Shooter. These two become very close as the series progresses. She is a skilled Jet Racing sports star with peerless aim and precision. Despite that, Misa tends to be quieter than her gyaru counterparts. This is another game made for the Summer Games rather than the Winter Games. Watching during the Winter Games is fine to warm up, though.
Joe has written extensive reviews of Kandagawa Jet Girls.
Kadokawa, Marvelous, and Egg Firm worked together to create this multimedia project. There is an anime and video game that fans of racing girls can enjoy.
5. Konomi Kasahara (Iwakakeru! Sport Climbing Girls)
Rock sport climbing can be done regardless of the weather because it’s indoors. Perfectly fine to play during the Winter Games. Konomi began her rock-climbing career as someone who loved to solve puzzles. Rather than take that skill to a board game, she geared up to climb rock walls, one of the far more labor-intensive Olympic sports. She uses her puzzle-solving skills to chart the most efficient path up the wall. Her skills have earned her the nicknames “Mother Eye” and “Murder Observation.” This is another sport made for the Summer Games.
Joe has written extensive reviews of Iwakakeru! Sport Climbing Girls.
Ryudai Ishizaka wrote and illustrated his Iwakakeru! Sport Climbing Girls from December 5th, 2017, to May 18th, 2019. Cygames has published all four volumes in Cycomi.
What do you make of our award-winning sports girls? Who do you think deserves a gold medal at the Olympics? Do you hope to see more sporty anime girls in time for the Summer Olympics? Let us know in the comments below.
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