Siberian sheep squatting contest won for the first time in 1,000 years by a foreigner

Siberian ‘sheep squatting’ contest won for the first time in 1,000 years by a foreigner after he performed 104 dips with a live animal on his back

  • Swiss archaeologist Dr Gino Caspari claimed the top prize for sheep squatting at a festival in Siberia 
  • The Naadym festival in the remote republic of Tuva celebrates farming and it includes various contests 
  • Video footage shows Dr Caspari in action with a crowd gathered around cheering him on 

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A foreigner has become the first to win a ‘sheep squatting’ contest in southern Siberia.

Swiss archaeologist Dr Gino Caspari, 32, claimed the top prize after achieving 104 squats with a live sheep on his back. Video footage shows the academic in action, with dozens of spectators gathered around cheering him on.

It is the first time in the festival’s 1,000-year history that a non-local has achieved such a feat.   

Swiss archaeologist Dr Gino Caspari, 32, claimed the top prize in an annual sheep squatting competition in Siberia

To mark his victory, Dr Caspari was awarded a framed certificate – and he also got to take the sheep home (though it hasn’t been confirmed that he did). 

The Bern native is currently based in Siberia as part of an ongoing project excavating Scythian tombs and burial sites. 

On one of his days off from digging, he found himself at the Naadym festival in the remote republic of Tuva.  

The annual event, which spans four days, celebrates farming and it includes various contests such as camel racing, archery and wrestling.  

Video footage shows the academic in action, with dozens of spectators gathered around cheering him on

Video footage shows the academic in action, with dozens of spectators gathered around cheering him on

Baa-rilliant: The sheep weighed around 50 kilograms and on the day it was very hot

Baa-rilliant: The sheep weighed around 50 kilograms and on the day it was very hot

To mark his victory, Dr Caspari was awarded a framed certificate - and he also got to take the sheep home. Though MailOnline Travel doesn't know whether he did

To mark his victory, Dr Caspari was awarded a framed certificate – and he also got to take the sheep home. Though MailOnline Travel doesn’t know whether he did

While at the festival Dr Caspari decided to try his hand at sheep squatting and to everyone’s amazement he beat seasoned squatters to claim victory.  

Expedition filmmaker Trevor Wallace, who is currently travelling with Dr Caspari and documenting his work, told MailOnline Travel that around 30 people took part in the sheep squatting contest and the animal weighed about 50 kilograms.

He added: ‘Gino got off to a fast pace and it was a very hot day.

‘I also had a go at it and found that the most difficult part was that the sheep kept licking my ear. I actually came second place and won a bottle of deer blood mixed with herbs. It is supposed to promote health, strength, and act as an aphrodisiac.

‘There was also a squatting competition for women to squat with a slightly smaller sheep and many female attendees participated.’   

Expedition filmmaker Trevor Wallace (pictured), who is currently travelling with Dr Caspari and documenting his work, told MailOnline Travel that around 30 people took part in the sheep squatting contest. Trevor also had a go at the contest and said that the most difficult part was that the animal kept licking his ear

Expedition filmmaker Trevor Wallace (pictured), who is currently travelling with Dr Caspari and documenting his work, told MailOnline Travel that around 30 people took part in the sheep squatting contest. Trevor also had a go at the contest and said that the most difficult part was that the animal kept licking his ear

A woman demonstrates her archery skills at the Naadym festival

A local man wearing traditional attire at the annual event, which celebrates agriculture

Left, a woman demonstrates her archery skills at the Naadym festival and right, a local man wearing traditional attire at the annual event, which celebrates agriculture

A local wears an elaborate outfit at the festival

A bottle of reindeer blood, which was one of the competition prizes

A local wears an elaborate outfit at the festival, left, and a bottle of reindeer blood, which was one of the competition prizes, right



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