American Abby Lampe Describes Challenges in Winning Famous Cheese-Rolling Competition: 'My Face Took a Lot of Hits Down the Hill'
In western England each year, die-hard fans race after a round of Double Gloucester cheese down Cooper's Hill to claim the title of champion. It's a straightforward competition; the cheese is released at the summit, and whoever among the throng of folks follows it, first reaches the bottom, and victory is theirs.
Lampe, who conquered this year's initial women's race, stated to CNN Sport that the incline is around "45 degrees steep." Lampe further described:
"When you're facing down, you can see the base, but there's definitely a considerable distance from there. At the starting line, you're pretty much clinging to the grass so you don't topple."
Lampe said: "Following my feat two years ago, I didn't wish to merely cling to my victory since it's ageing just as the cheese. I wanted to renew that conquest and bring the title back to the US." She is from North Carolina.
Evolving from a neighborhood event, the contest at Cooper's Hill, in Brockworth, Gloucestershire, now draws participants and spectators from across the globe. However, considering entering the 2025 edition, remember: The competition is frequently plagued by injuries.
"Two years ago, someone sufered a broken leg,” Lampe cautioned. “So it's not for the timid. Folks fracture their collarbones; people fracture their ankles, their arms – it's definitely a hazardous challenge."
Reflecting on this year's competition, she told CNN Sport: "My visage took several impacts down the incline, just like my body. That's the fee you pay to take home the cheese."
On her secret to triumph, Lampe divulged: "My tactic is to basically sprint from the gate and then initiate rolling, and two years ago, that tactic functioned exceptionally well for me – I simply tumbled my way to the bottom."
The winners of the men's race were Tom Kopke from Germany, Dylan Twist from Australia, and local boy Josh Shepherd.
Lampe highlighted the essential strategy she used: "Honestly, I just started running and then began rolling – and the approach proved effective again this year for me."
Kopke, Twist & Shepherd won the initial, second, and third men's races respectively.
Read also:
- Prodigies of sport: Littler's predecessors
- Nagelsmann's announcement: A restless Christmas for national team players
- What sports fans prefer to watch on television
- The calm before the upheaval: Nagelsmann's European Championship plans
In the intense competition, participants risk fracturing their bones due to the rough terrain, as Lampe herself survived with facial injuries after her victory. During the race, all contestants need a bold strategy to roll and sprint their way down the steep hill.
Source:
