WTF Is THIS?! Annual Cheese Rolling Competition in England

The Annual Cheese Rolling Tradition

• 🧀 The annual cheese rolling competition in Gloucestershire, England, involves participants racing down a steep hill to catch a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese.
• 💡 This centuries-old tradition, dating back to at least 1826, sees people risk injury for the chance to win the cheese.
• 🌍 The event is noted for being in England, providing a contrast that makes Americans feel better about their own potentially embarrassing actions on the international stage.

Winners and Their Motivations

• 🏆 A German man won the men's category for the second consecutive year, stating he "worked for this" and "risked his life for this."
• 🤷‍♀️ Surprisingly, the winner of the women's category, from London, admitted she doesn't even like cheese, highlighting a desire to "get roughed up" or "harm myself."
• 🏅 The grand prize for the winner is simply the wheel of cheese itself.

Dangers and Official Stance

• ⚠️ The race takes place down Cooper's Hill, a dangerously steep incline where participants can reach speeds of up to 80 miles per hour.
• 🚑 Despite being cancelled in 2010 due to safety concerns and injuries, local authorities allowed the event to proceed this year, issuing a safety warning.
• 🏥 Two contestants required hospitalization following this year's event, underscoring the inherent dangers.
• 🧐 The tradition continues despite official warnings and the clear risks of mass casualty incidents.