10 music videos that celebrate summer Olympic sports | CBC Music
Music

10 music videos that celebrate summer Olympic sports

Get ready for the 2024 Paris Olympics with these sports-themed clips from Dua Lipa, Sum 41, Missy Elliott and more.

Get ready for the 2024 Paris Olympics with these sports-themed clips

A shirtless blond man wearing boxing gloves and shorts with the name 'Bieber' on it appears prepared for a fight.
Pop star Justin Bieber plays a boxer training for a championship fight in his 2021 music video for the song 'Anyone.' (Justin Bieber/YouTube; graphic by CBC Music)

The 2024 Summer Olympics are officially 100 days away, and the best way to get pumped up for any event is through music. 

Music and sports often collide in memorable music videos, from Sum 41's goofy display of diving in "In Too Deep," to Martin Solveig and Dragonette's intense tennis match in "Hello." Below, we've gathered 10 music videos that celebrate 10 different Olympic sports taking place in Paris this year. 

Share your favourite sports-themed music videos with us in the comments.


Tennis: 'Hello,' Martin Solveig & Dragonette

The tennis competition at the 2024 Paris Games will take place from July 27 to Aug. 4 at Roland Garros, which is not only the home of the storied French Open, but also the setting for this music video for Martin Solveig and Dragonette's 2011 hit, "Hello." Solveig faces match point against French DJ Bob Sinclair, but a deus ex machina in the form of Novak Djokovic arrives to contest the line judge's call — and the tables are turned. (Watch to the end to see a cameo by French tennis star Gael Monfils.) 

Diving: 'In too Deep,' Sum 41

While the members of Sum 41 perform some illegal maneuvers in this diving-themed music video, "In too Deep" accurately delivers on the thrills of watching competitive diving. From the feuding teams (the band versus a group of typical jocks) to the technical skills on display (kudos to Sum 41's body doubles), this 2001 Marc Klasfeld-directed clip perfectly combines the Olympic sport with a heavy dose of Rodney Dangerfield-inspired comedy

Basketball: 'Best I Ever Had,' Drake

Before he became the global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors, Drake attempted to coach a women's basketball team in his music video for his 2009 hit "Best I Ever Had." Tapping into his comedic skills, the rapper looks and acts the part of a coach, even giving his players inspiring speeches, but fails to lead the women to a win. While down 42-4, a player raises her hand to point out, "But Drake, all you ever taught us how to do was stretch!" While he's an undeniably great rapper, Drake's probably better off just sitting courtside at a basketball game. 

Surfing: 'Low Light,' Pearl Jam

Surfing finally made it onto the Olympic program for the 2020 Tokyo Games, and returns for Paris 2024. However, the competition will actually take place on the other side of the planet from Paris, to take advantage of the legendary conditions in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. Jock Sutherland, three-time Hawaii state surfing champion, pipeline pioneer and Surfer Magazine's surfer of the year in 1969, was well past his prime in 1998 when he starred in this video for Pearl Jam's "Low Light." But he proves that age is just a number when you're doing what you love. Watch the full video here.

Boxing: 'Anyone,' Justin Bieber 

Canada hasn't medalled at the Olympics for boxing since 1996, but Justin Bieber triumphantly wins a championship fight in the romantic, boxing-themed music video for "Anyone." Portraying a fighter in the 1940s, Bieber runs, lifts weights, drinks raw eggs and laces up his gloves before getting knocked down in the ring during the video's climax. Inspired by his love interest (played by actress Zoey Deutch), he recovers from some brutal punches and delivers a powerful blow to secure his victory.

Wrestling: 'Suplex,' the Halluci Nation

In 2015, the Halluci Nation (then named A Tribe Called Red) released a wrestling-themed EP called Suplex. The music video for the title track follows the journey of a young Indigenous boy who grows up to become a wrestling champion. As the band explained via press release, wrestling was one of the few spaces in entertainment where Indigenous people saw themselves represented, even though many Indigenous wrestlers (like Chief Jay Youngblood and Wahoo McDaniel) had to play into stereotypes by wearing headdresses and tassels. "The idea of the video was to show that connection we made to these people beyond stereotypes, but also to see an Indigenous character make it, without needing the stereotype," Halluci Nation's Bear Witness said at the time.

Breaking: 'Work It,' Missy Elliott 

Missy Elliott is a rapper who always gives dancers their moment in the spotlight, highlighting the inextricable link between hip-hop music and dance. Many of her music videos include b-boys and b-girls, including "Ching-a-Ling," "Gossip Folks" and, of course, the 2002 breakout hit "Work It." Still played regularly on dance floors across the world, the record scratches and futuristic drums are the perfect background for breakdancing (officially referred to as breaking), with moves including windmills, kneedrops and headspins. The "Work It" video features many dancers, but notably Stefan "Mr. Wiggles" Clemente, an iconic street dancer from the Bronx. Now, decades after it exploded on the scene, breaking will get its time to shine on the world stage this summer. Although official competitions have occurred since the 1990s, and the dance style has spread from its roots in New York all over the globe, the Paris Olympics will mark the first time it's recognized on such a large scale.

Synchro: 'Illusion,' Dua Lipa

Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc in Barcelona hosted swimming events at the 1992 Olympic Games, which makes it the perfectly picturesque choice for Dua Lipa's brand new track, "Illusions." Directed by Tanu Muino — who has also worked with Jennifer Lopez, Harry Styles, Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B — "Illusions" features teams of divers and synchronized swimmers as Dua Lipa' s backup dancers, with incredible shots of everyone draped on the diving tower, Barcelona's skyline in the background. "Illusions" could be a workout video or an Olympics ad — but either way, it's a shoo-in for song (and dance) of the summer.

Gymnastics: 'All We Got,' Robin Schulz feat. Kiddo

German musician and DJ Robin Schulz collaborated with Swedish singer-songwriter Kiddo for this uplifting anthem, which they released in October 2020 — and with the opening lines, "This is all we got/ dreaming 'bout a revolution in our minds," it feels very much of that (pandemic) time. The feel-good song is paired with an equally uplifting video, which features former Romanian pro gymnasts Olivia Cimpian and Andrada Craciun. The two face off against each other on opposing teams, buckling under unreasonable pressure from their coaches. Their solution is a fun collaborative program on the mat, which won't win them a medal but does win everyone's hearts.

Running: 'Je Cours,' Stromae

While Olympic track-and-field athletes have specific uniforms, Belgian artist Stromae opted for a suit and bowtie in his 2011 music video for "Je Cours" (which translates to "I Run"). In the black-and-white clip, Stromae jogs on city streets, in parks and through tunnels as a car steadily remains in front of him. On the track, he strives to find his place in the world, fearing that he'll be forgotten. For Olympians, there's no better way to achieve this than a coveted spot on the podium.