And Now, For No Reason Whatsoever, the Russian Slapping Competition

I saw this tweet doing the rounds recently:

Meanwhile in Russia…the 'male slapping championships' took place in Krasnoyarsk. The winner, Vasiliy Kamotskiy (left) took home 30,000 rubles (£350) 👏🇷🇺pic.twitter.com/aXQkMkmbd6

— Danny Armstrong (@DannyWArmstrong) March 19, 2019

And, well, because these days I’m living in a strange daze of paralysing existential ennui alternating with apocalyptic climate anxiety and a fear of a rising fascist international, I couldn’t help but think: ‘Huh. Weird. Cool. Weird but cool I guess.’

Here’s a longer version:

And questions abounded:

How has this one bloke managed to get himself to such a ridiculously higher level of slapping power such that he makes the other grown men’s efforts look like that of toddlers? I mean, I know he’s clearly got a lot of mass behind that swing, but nevertheless, what a uniquely specific skill.

Shouldn’t there be weight classes? In such a clearly well regulated and monitored, prestigious sport?

Why do they need to be topless?

These. Are. The. Things. I. Need. To. Know.