Story By: Gheorghi Caraseni, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
Video Credit: CEN/@bloknot.ru
This the moment a Russian convict takes part in an annual boot-throwing contest and beats his record from last year with a 28-metre lob.
The incident was filmed at the 11th Omsk Penitentiary in the city of Omsk in the southern Russian region of Omsk Oblast and the footage was later posted on YouTube.
According to local media, the boot-throwing contest started six years ago and has become an annual event at the prison.
Reports said that 20 inmates from various different prisons in the area took part in the contest.
Each inmate had three throws and the eventual winner, identified as Stanislav, won the contest with a 28-metre (92-foot) throw.
The champion thrower beat his own record from last year when he managed to lob a boot over a distance of 27 metres (89 feet).
Svetlana Plotnikova, spokesperson for the Federal Penitentiary Service in Omsk Oblast, said: “Every prison has its own quirky event. Here in the 11 colonies of Omsk Oblast we hold a funny competition known as ‘valenok’ (boot-throwing).
“Whoever wins receives a small prize, and we try to encourage inmates to take part in our cultural and sporting events.”
Plotnikova explained that the top three throwers receive a prize while the winner gets a trophy.
She also said that Stanislav will be unable to defend his record-breaking throw next year.
Plotnikova stated: “His sentence will be finished by the time the next competition comes around.”
The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
