10 of the World’s Craziest Competitions
Not every sport needs a stadium or a scoreboard. Around the world, people compete in ways that are anything but ordinary. Some test physical limits, others focus on pain tolerance, balance, or plain weirdness. These contests may look odd, but they’re very real, with rules, fans, and dedicated participants.
Here are 10 of the strangest competitions ever held, each more surprising than the last.
The Self-Transcendence 3,100 Mile Race
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This race takes place on a single block in Queens, New York. Participants run 3,100 miles by circling the same sidewalk for nearly seven weeks. Daily routines involve around 18 hours of running, brief sleep periods, and pre-prepared meals. Many runners follow Sri Chinmoy’s spiritual discipline.
The Jungle Marathon
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Running 137 miles is difficult. Doing it in the Amazon, with its choking humidity, unpredictable wildlife, and dense terrain, makes it brutal. The race lasts seven days, and armed guards monitor areas like “Jaguar Alley.” In one year, fewer than 20% of entrants reached the finish line.
The Dakar Rally
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This is a race for survival. The Dakar Rally sends vehicles across desert and off-road terrain, which stretches around 3,000 miles over two weeks. Drivers face sandstorms, extreme heat, and dangerous isolation. Since its 1978 launch, over 50 people have died due to accidents, dehydration, and exhaustion mid-course.
The World Sauna Championships
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Until 2010, Heinola, Finland, hosted this heat endurance challenge. Contestants sat in 230°F heat, with steam intensified every 30 seconds. Participants had to remain seated and upright. The contest ended permanently after a tragic death, but for years, it pushed competitors to endure far beyond comfort.
Bee-Wearing Competition
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Held in China’s Hunan Province, this event isn’t for the faint-hearted. Participants lure live bees onto their bodies using queen bees in small cages. They stand still on scales for one hour. In 2011, a man reportedly carried over 57 pounds of bees—roughly 350,000 insects—earning him the win.
Chess Boxing
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Chess boxing alternates rounds of chess and boxing. A match ends through checkmate or knockout. The sport began as a Dutch performance art project before developing into organized competition with referees, announcers, and televised events. Success depends on both strategic concentration and physical resilience.
Nailympia
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This international nail art showdown includes a fantasy category where competitors go all in. They have one hour to complete intricate nail designs, often building elaborate themes with costumes and 3D displays mounted to their arms. Past entries have included war scenes and animal habitats sculpted entirely in acrylic.
Worm Charming Championship
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Since 1980, England’s worm charming competition has invited participants to coax earthworms from soil within a 30-minute window with no digging allowed. Participants use creative techniques like tapping, vibrating, or even music. In 2009, a ten-year-old set a record with 567 worms, which proved this odd skill has youthful talent behind it.
The Tunarama Festival
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Hosted in Port Lincoln, Australia, this festival features a frozen tuna‑throwing contest measuring distance throws. Real tuna were used until 2007, when organizers switched to artificial replicas to protect declining fish stocks. The toss remains the centerpiece of a larger festival with seafood markets and cultural events.
Extreme Ironing
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Extreme ironing began in Leicester, England, in 1997. Participants iron clothing in hazardous or unconventional environments such as cliffs, underwater sites, and during aerial activities. The activity has no official governing body. Recognition comes through shared photographic proof of ironing in difficult locations.