The Fastest Growing Sports in America 

Classic sports like baseball, football, and basketball have long been some of the most popular sports in the United States. However, in recent years, other sports have been increasing in popularity. Researchers at ReCreate analyzed data from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association to create a graphic displaying the sports that are growing the fastest in the United States.

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The visualization lists the growth of each sport’s popularity in the last four years and color codes the information based on the type of sport (team sport, racket sport, winter sport, water sport, individual sport, or outdoor sport).

The sport that is growing fastest in the U.S. is pickleball, a racket sport similar to tennis that can be played both indoors and outdoors. Pickleball has seen a 171.1% increase in participation in the last four years and has an estimated 4.8 million players. It originally started in the 1960s as a children’s game but has since become very popular with adults as well. In 2022, it was named the state sport of Washington.

The second fastest-growing sport in America is alpine touring, which has increased 115% in popularity over the last four years. Alpine touring is a type of backcountry skiing that utilizes special bindings so participants can ascend hills with heels unlocked and lock heels back in to descend. This allows for mobility when climbing and safety when going downhill.

The third sport on the list is winter fat biking. This unique sport, which has increased in popularity by 69.4%, involves riding a bicycle with oversized wheels in the snow. The big wheels make it easier for riders to peddle through the slushy snow and terrain.

How many sports on this list have you played?