FINLAND: Competitors from around the world take part in the "hottest" contest this year

The 9th annual Sauna World Championship took place in Heinola, Finland on Friday, August 3rd and Saturday August 4th, with 101 competitors from 17 different countries competing for the crown in what's arguably the "hottest" event this summer. It wasn't a contest for the faint-hearted. All those who took part did so at their own risk. The temperature in the sauna climbed to around 110 degrees Celsius. Every 30 seconds, half a litre of water was thrown on the stove, to create clouds of hot steam. The last person left standing -literally- was declared the champion. (The winner has to leave the sauna without outside help; otherwise he or she is disqualified.) Many of the competitors failed to qualify after the first day's heats. Competitors from China, Germany, Belarus and Finland contested the women's semi-finals. The men's sittings were dominated by the Finns. Only another competitor from Belarus took them on in the finals competition on Saturday. But some of those who were unsuccessful in the trials were nonetheless given a wild card and allowed to take their places in the sauna again. "It's the first time that Aland is participating, so we have never been in the sauna competition before and that is reason enough," Aland Islands competitor Kenneth Bamberg said. "I have been practising sauna for several years and now when they have a competition, why not?" said Swedish competitor Fredrik Martinsson. "It was nice of them to even let me enter. I think I have only been in a sauna five times before in my life so it was crazy but it was fun," first-time American competitor Rick Reilly said. The woman's final was a tough fight between Natalia Trifanava from Belarus and Leila Kulin from Finland. After 10 minutes and 31 seconds, Natalia Trifanava had to be escorted from the sauna and Leila Kulin jumped with joy on realising that she'd defended her world championship victory for the second year in a row. But she made light of the victory: "I feel really good in the sauna, it is hot enough and it is comfortable," Kulin said. "I have not prepared for a long time, it is only for the last two days that I have prepared in a special way." The men's final was dominated by the locals. Six Finnish men competed for the crown, in front of a cheering home crowd. Timo Kaukonen stayed in the heat for the longest, a fierce 12 minutes and 26 seconds, to win the men's championships.

ITN Source | August 7, 2007

Tags:. .enough. .sittings. .outside. .august. .jumped