The Most Unusual Sports: Try Breaking a Record

Let’s take a break from sword swallowing, tightrope walking, and juggling kettlebells — you are not a circus star, and that’s perfectly fine. Even if a spot on the podium of success seems out of reach at first glance, don’t despair. Try mixing all the skills you have at your disposal. Sometimes, a little effort is all it takes to find your “goldmine” in the world of success.

For example, if you have the gift of public speaking, the ability to attract funds for charities, and the skill to write texts that can touch anyone’s heart, you could become a highly successful public figure. It’s all about collecting “points” in a unique combination, and success will come knocking at your door.

A winning combination of skills consists of abilities that are not too similar. If you’re among the top journalists, excelling in writing skills may not provide a significant advantage, as most journalists are already skilled writers. The key is to identify skills that complement each other and are diverse enough to make you stand out from the crowd.

But what if you already possess abilities that make you the most unique person in the world?

British inventor Richard Browning decided that simply being human was too boring. So, he created a jet suit and flew over the English Channel at a speed of 136 km/h, breaking his own record. The suit, equipped with five turbines, boasts a power of 5000 horsepower and is controlled via a helmet display. His future plans? To produce an entire series of such suits. Talk about a unique super idea!

Meanwhile, Nilanshi Patel from India didn’t invent anything — she simply grew her hair. At 16, she holds the record for the longest hair at 170 cm. No motivational speeches or special skills — just patience and dedication, and now a world record is in her pocket.

Lucky Diamond Rich from New Zealand has made it into the Guinness World Records as the most tattooed man on the planet. On the other hand, Tazio Gavioli from Italy managed to do 36 pull-ups using only his pinkies, earning himself the long-awaited certificate confirming his achievement.

Rocky Stoutenburgh, known as “RockyNoHands,” has become a legend in the game Fortnite. The gamer achieved 509 victories using a unique mouth-operated joystick. Paralyzed from the neck down, Rocky uses an adaptive controller designed for people with disabilities to dominate the game and inspire millions.

And then there’s George Dantzig, a renowned American mathematician, who solved a problem that had been considered unsolvable for decades — all because of a misunderstanding. As a university student, he arrived late to a lecture and mistook a set of equations written on the board for homework. He found the problems unusually difficult but didn’t give up. A few days later, he handed his work to the professor, who was astonished by what George had achieved.

Professor Jerzy Neyman absentmindedly accepted the assignment, but when he eventually looked at what his student had submitted, he was stunned. The professor recalled that, indeed, at the beginning of one of his lectures, he had presented the students with two unsolvable statistical problems. These were problems that not only he but also other great minds of the time had been unable to solve. However, George Dantzig, having arrived late to class, missed the part where their unsolvability was discussed and ended up solving them.

Every person is unique in some way, but similar to everyone else in others. For example, you might be the best at quoting Brodsky, but your sprinting speed is just average. Or you may have an exceptional singing talent, but your borscht will always be under-salted. Most likely, you have a special talent, but it is just one small detail in the grand mosaic of your personality.

Is it always necessary to strive for the best results? If your life needs a little excitement and you’re ready to be the best at something unusual — go for it! If you’re content with how things are, there’s no need to push yourself. You, too, can set a record — not for the sake of the record itself, but for the thrill and fun of the experience.

Why not try your hand at some unusual sports? Especially since competitions in eccentric disciplines are held regularly, and the prize pools often match those of major sporting events.

For example, you can always saddle up an ostrich and race straight to victory.

Back in the distant 1890s, in sunny Florida, in the city of Jacksonville, ostriches became a real attraction for the local public. However, as with any show business, incidents were inevitable — jockeys fell off, ostriches showed their temperament, sometimes remembering they were birds and taking flight, or on the contrary, overpowering their riders with their strong legs. Despite these amusing mishaps, the races quickly gained popularity, and to this day, ostrich racing continues to attract crowds of thrill-seekers every year.

And there’s certainly plenty to see! Jockeys climb onto the backs of these majestic birds and race forward like crazy! Each race turns into a true comedy show, as ostriches sometimes ignore the routes carefully planned by the organizers and embark on their own “adventures,” sending their riders on an unexpected solo flight. (“Wings, wings… but the tail is the key!”)

Sometimes, jockeys harness ostriches to chariots, creating a miniature version of ancient Roman Olympics, where ostriches take the place of horses. These feathered locomotives eagerly pull the chariots, and at times, they get so carried away that they initiate their own races, leaving the jockeys in mild shock.

A Great Sport, but Quite Risky.
A Different Story — Belly Flopping into a Mud Puddle.

Belly flopping into a mud puddle is a real competition held by the residents of East Dublin, Georgia. Participants hurl themselves into the embrace of a giant puddle, leaving behind a trail of laughter and splashes, while a rowdy crowd cheers on their favorite contender in this messy showdown.

It all started back in 1996 when Atlanta hosted the Summer Olympic Games. At the time, many were puzzled—how could a state predominantly inhabited by blue-collar workers be entrusted with such a grand event? However, the locals successfully pulled it off and decided not to stop there, establishing their own unique games.

Belly flopping into a puddle is no easy feat. The jump must be graceful, unique, and as prolonged as possible — defying all laws of gravity. At the very last moment, you need to tuck in, enter the water smoothly, and land precisely on your belly. The main goal is to make everyone gasp in awe! If you fail, instead of thunderous applause, you might end up with a few unpleasant bruises — and the paramedic on standby will suddenly become your best friend.

As a bonus, winners of the belly flop competition receive a generous cash prize, which can be spent on anything — except medical bills.

Today, Atlanta gathers true fans of the Confederate flag and admirers of the good old South to enthusiastically engage in the most exotic types of competitions. Throwing toilet seats? Easy! Wrestling for pig feet? Why not. Belly flopping into a puddle for everyone’s amusement? What could be more fun!

A Great Sport! But Not a Team One.
If team spirit is important to you, then look for a ball.

We’ve played countless ball games on playgrounds — “Wall Ball,” “Edible or Inedible,” and “Hale-Halo.” But the most adrenaline-packed game has always been dodgeball. All you needed was a ball and at least three eager participants — one in the center and two on the sides, ready to hurl the ball at the unfortunate player in the middle, who would squeal and dodge the flying projectiles.

In the 21st century, this carefree pastime has evolved into a professional sport known worldwide as dodgeball. The rules have changed slightly, but the essence remains the same — to win, you must hit your opponent with the ball.

There’s an amusing historical fact about dodgeball. In 1241, during the Battle of the River Sajo, the Mongols got so carried away with their victory that they started throwing the severed heads of their defeated enemies at each other. Not the most humane version of the game, but it did happen.

African warriors also had their own version. Two hundred years ago, they gathered to hurl large stones at each other. When one of the brave participants got hit in the forehead, his teammates would rush to his aid, trying to save the unfortunate soul. The game was loud, extremely risky, and required not so much dodging skills as emergency medical assistance. (“African men were so tough…”)

British missionary James Henry Carlisle was so impressed by the African stone-throwing games that he decided to bring home a safer version. Instead of flying stones, his game used heavy leather balls, and college students eagerly embraced this new form of entertainment.

Over time, in 1905, thanks to Philip Ferguson, the first official dodgeball rules were introduced in the USA. The game quickly gained popularity in American schools and then spread worldwide. In 2004, the comedy film “Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,” starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn, further popularized the game, turning it into a true cultural phenomenon.

Amazing! But Someone Has to Fire the Pots.

Who would have thought that ironing with a regular iron could become a sport? Participants of this unusual pastime press their shirts while diving underwater, exploring caves, and even on the slopes of cliffs. Jumping out of an airplane is something almost anyone can do, but jumping out with a full ironing kit in hand is reserved for the chosen few.

In 1997, in the English city of Leicester, a local resident named Phil Shaw felt that he had too many daily chores and not enough adrenaline in his life. Tired of routine and monotony, he decided to combine the useful with the enjoyable — and thus, a new sport was born: Extreme Ironing!

The concept is brilliant — take a standard ironing board and an iron, and head to the most incredible places to “iron” your clothes. But not just iron them — do it with style and flair. The iron must be real, not a prop, the ironing board no shorter than a meter and at least 30 centimeters wide, and the item to be ironed must be no smaller than a kitchen towel.

Imagine standing on top of a mountain, the wind blowing through your hair, an iron in one hand, and an ironing board in the other. You are now one step closer to earning the title of “Ironing Champion.”

But what if you still have too much energy left?

It turns out that in the depths of Devonshire, England, toe wrestling has been practiced since 1976. Instead of powerful arms like in arm wrestling, you’ll need agile toes. The rules of this gripping sport are simple — competitors lock their big toes together while placing their feet between two wooden boards. The goal is simple — grip and hold your opponent’s toe for as long as possible. Meanwhile, you must comfortably position yourself on the floor and show the world who’s boss, controlling your entire body’s movement.

For a long time, the undisputed master of toe wrestling was Alan “Nasty” Nash, who retired in 2022. Now, participants and fans complain that the sport is losing popularity, and in an attempt to bring toe wrestling “back on its feet” — or rather, onto its toes — they established the “World Toe Wrestling Federation.” They are actively encouraging locals to join their ranks.

But that’s not all! Competitors can choose whether to participate with socks on or without. The latter is easier, but who wouldn’t want to show off a perfectly matching pair of socks?

So, if you can pick something up off the floor with your toes, don’t waste any time. You might just have a hidden talent and become the ultimate champion in this exotic form of wrestling.

Are There Exotic Sports for Choke Hold Enthusiasts and Speed Lovers? Yes, There Are.

Car Jitsu — The idea came to the mind of Vikenty Mikheev, a black belt in jiu-jitsu and judo, who decided that regular ring fights were just too boring. Why not have a match right in the front seats of a car? The rules are simple — two brave participants sit in a car and start grappling with each other. The game consists of two rounds so that each participant gets the chance to be both the “driver” and the “passenger.” If a winner isn’t determined within six minutes of intense struggle, then the third round begins — a fight from the back seat, where the opponents grapple for another four minutes.

Each action earns points — three points for transitioning to a standing position, four points for gaining the top position, another four for holding a back mount, and two points for a knee-on-belly position. But the most surprising rule of this sport is that all strikes are strictly prohibited. However, seat belts and the handbrake can be used to the fullest. One might wonder where the traffic police are in all of this…

Gardening enthusiasts can also compete.

Pumpkin Racing, Pumpkin Regatta, or Pumpkin Kayaking involves navigating rivers or lakes using the familiar orange vegetable as a boat. To avoid sinking in this pumpkin marvel, the gourd must be carefully prepared — holes should be cut for legs and arms. Participants, armed with paddles, must steer their “vessel” and complete designated routes.

The pumpkin regatta can include speed races, figure rowing, and even pumpkin diving. Although this sport does not yet have official status, it is rapidly gaining popularity among fans of active recreation and extreme sports.

Pumpkin regattas are popular in the United States and are also embraced in countries where Halloween is celebrated on a grand scale, such as Ireland. And after the competition, the pumpkin can be cooked and enjoyed while dreaming of conquering new heights.