10 sports anime on Crunchyroll to watch before the Olympics are over

With the 2024 Paris Olympics concluding later this weekend, there’s no better time to check out the sports anime on Crunchyroll for those lamenting the conclusion of the Summer Games. Almost every sport represented in the Summer Games has an anime analog, some of which were even acknowledged at the 2024 Paris Olympics in their respective events.

These also line up with some of the most popular sports anime on Crunchyroll in general, such as the beloved Haikyu!! anime series and the new popular kid on the block, BLUE LOCK. Without a doubt, there’s a sports anime on Crunchyroll to start for anyone and everyone sad to see the 2024 Paris Olympics leave after this weekend’s closing events.

Slam Dunk, Overtake, and more sports anime on Crunchyroll perfectly fill the void left by the 2024 Paris Olympics

1) Haikyu!!

Kicking off the list is likely the most well-known sports anime on Crunchyroll, the Haikyu!! television anime series. It’s also a perfect fit for a Summer Games replacement given its focus on a men’s high school volleyball team. However, in general, the series is held in very high regard and is beloved as both a sports anime and a story in and of itself.

The series follows protagonist Shoyo Hinata, who dreams of becoming like the next “Little Giant” after seeing the original play for Karasuno High’s volleyball team. The series follows Hinata as he progresses through middle school, high school, and beyond, relentlessly pursuing volleyball greatness no matter what obstacles come his way.

2) BLUE LOCK

One of the newest sports anime on Crunchyroll included here, BLUE LOCK is a cut-throat story focused on Japan's drastic efforts to improve their international football standing. Also known as soccer in some countries, the series is a perfect substitute for the 2024 Paris Olympics’ focus on soccer, which saw Spain take home the gold this year.

The series focuses on protagonist Yoichi Isagi, an unknown high school football player who is still figuring out his playstyle. He decides to join the titular program, run by the football enigma Jinpachi Ego, to become the best striker in the world. To do that, he’ll need to make it to the program’s end, with its goal in turn being to create the world’s greatest egotist striker.

3) Kuroko’s Basketball

Kuroko's Basketball (Image via Crunchyroll)

One of two beloved basketball-centric sports anime on Crunchyroll included here, Kuroko’s Basketball is beloved both as a sports anime specifically and anime series in general. While the medalists for basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics are still to be decided in both the men’s and women’s categories, the series will serve as a great follow-up to these competitions.

The series focuses on Tetsuya Kuroko, the “phantom” sixth member of a middle school team known as the “Generation of Miracles,” and Taiga Kagami, a talented player who spent his youth in the USA. Now high schoolers, the pair aim to bring their Seirin High basketball team to the top of Japan by taking on Kuroko’s former Generation of Miracles teammates one by one.

4) SK8 the Infinity

SK8 the Infinity (Image via Crunchyroll)

While still relatively new to the Summer Games, skateboarding was officially added to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which took place in 2021 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, with many sure to miss it as the 2024 Paris Olympics take their leave, these fans will be happy to hear of even this niche sport having an analog sports anime on Crunchyroll.

This comes in the form of SK8 The Infinity, which follows a group of hardcore skaters in Okinawa, Japan, who participate in a secret no-holds-barred competition known as “S.” Focusing on high school sophomore and hardcore skater Reki, he and new transfer student Langa go to S one night. The series sees the pair continue to explore and fall in love with skateboarding and the underground scene.

5) Slam Dunk

The second of the two basketball sports anime on Crunchyroll to appear on this list, Slam Dunk takes a much different direction than Kuroko’s Basketball. Nevertheless, both are still great representations of the sport and a perfect match for anyone who is a fan of the real-life game, each offering different perspectives on the sport.

Slam Dunk follows high school delinquent and gang leader Hanamichi Sakuragi, who meets the girl of his dreams in Haruko Akagi. Recognizing his athleticism, Haruko takes him to the Shohoku basketball team, prompting him to join the team to impress her.

However, over time, he develops a genuine love for the sport, growing both as a person and player as he and his teammates bond over heartbreaking losses and exhilarating victories.

6) The Prince of Tennis

The Prince of Tennis (Image via Crunchyroll)

While tennis has been over at the 2024 Paris Olympics for some time with Novak Djokovic taking home his first singles gold, the sport’s rallies and volleys don’t need to stop there. The Prince of Tennis serves as the best sports anime on Crunchyroll dealing with tennis specifically and is an enjoyable watch both in general and in this context.

The series is about Tokyo high schooler Ryoma Echizen, a tennis prodigy attending Seishun Academy, which is known for its strong tennis club filled with talented players. The series follows Ryoma as he beats and bonds with his new teammates, all of whom are pursuing the goal of winning the National Middle School Tennis Championship. Along the way, Ryoma develops his unique style while realizing exactly what and how much the sport really means to him.

7) Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club

Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club (Image via Crunchyroll)

For a multitude of reasons, all eyes were on men’s and women’s swimming alike at the 2024 Paris Olympics and for good reason. Arguably, the best proof of this is Léon Marchand beating Michael Phelp’s 400-meter individual medley time with a 4:02.95, securing the gold medal in the process. While the Summer Games’ swimming events are over, Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club is the best sports anime on Crunchyroll to keep the aquatic competitiveness going.

The series focuses on high school student Haruka Nanase, a gifted swimmer who revitalizes Iwatobi High School’s swim team after encountering childhood rival Rin Matsuoka. The series follows Haruka, Rin, and others through high school and well beyond, chronicling their growth as both people and athletes, as well as the deepening of their bonds during this marine journey.

8) Overtake!

The newest sports anime on Crunchyroll included on this list also has the unique distinction of being the only one without an analog in either the Summer or Winter Games. Nevertheless, it makes for a great watch both before and after the Olympics, leave for its unique story that shows how even spectators can fall in love with a sport as much as the competitors themselves.

Overtake! shows this via protagonist Koya Madoka, a freelance photographer who finds himself in a professional and personal slump due to a mysterious reason. This changes when a story leads him to Fuji International Speedway, where he meets high school F4 racer Haruka Asahina. After spending the day at the track, something stirs in him, inspiring him to begin supporting Haruka and the “Komaki Motors” youth team in achieving their grand dreams.

9) Love All Play

While some readers may be shocked to learn that badminton is indeed an Olympic sport, the game had a fierce outing at the 2024 Paris Olympics from July 27 to August 5. Although it may not be the most popular or well-known Olympic sport, there is thankfully one sports anime on Crunchyroll that can give its fanatics a new way to view the pastime.

Love All Play follows junior high student Ryou Mizushima, who joins the badminton team with his friends on a whim. However, he grows fond of the sport, relentlessly training to improve and eventually being scouted to the Yokohama Minato High School’s team. Determined to surpass Kento Yusa, a player on the team who Ryou admires, he attends high school, joins the team, and begins the long journey to badminton greatness.

10) PuraOre! ~Pride of Orange~

PuraOre! ~Pride of Orange~ (Image via Crunchyroll)

Lastly, this sports anime on Crunchyroll serves as an analog to the Winter Games' favorite, hockey, as opposed to anything in the Summer Games. Nevertheless, the series is a great watch for both before and after the 2024 Paris Olympics concludes, as a means of looking ahead to the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics in Italy. PuraOre! is also unique as it’s the only series on this list to be part of a mixed-media project.

Likewise, the series and project in general focuses on a group of girls playing ice hockey, focusing on Manaka Mizusawa who visits the Dream Monkeys ice hockey team practice one day. While the first practice was experimental, Manaka and her friends commit to attending again the next week, eventually being offered to become official team members. This starts their journey to becoming one as a team, as well as deepening their friendships along the way.

Final thoughts

While there are many great sports anime on Crunchyroll, the above 10 serve as the best to check out before the 2024 Paris Olympics depart and in the wake of their conclusion. Some additional great sports anime on Crunchyroll that couldn’t quite make the cut for the above include Eyeshield 21, Hajime no Ippo, Captain Tsubasa, Aoashi, and many more.