Climbing coconut trees for glory! 🥥🌴 The 12th National Ethnic Games just wrapped up an exciting two-day coconut tree climbing contest at Southwest University Sanya Middle School. For the first time ever, tree climbing was officially added as an event, and who better to sweep the titles than the locals from Hainan!
Coconut tree climbing is as thrilling as it sounds: athletes race against time to scale slender poles and hit the button at the top. It's all about speed, technique, and a touch of island spirit. Since this sport is rooted in the daily life of Hainan's people—who often climb trees to pick fresh coconuts—it's no surprise they're pros at it.
Luo Jun, from the Li ethnic group, claimed the men's title with an impressive time of 6.188 seconds. On the women's side, Fu Shijun, of Han ethnicity, took the crown in 6.663 seconds. Both athletes were over the moon to showcase their skills on home turf and share their unique sport with the rest of China.
\"I'm so excited. I've dreamed of winning this title but never expected it to actually come true. I'm beyond happy! In Hainan, we climb trees to pick coconuts when we want fresh coconut water. Now, with coconut tree climbing added to the Games, everyone is learning about our sport. It's a fantastic way to promote and raise awareness of Hainan's traditional sports,\" shared Luo with a grin.
Fu added, \"I'm a sprinter, and I believe my training helped build my explosive power, giving me an edge in the race. When I was younger, I always wanted to climb trees to pick coconuts and drink fresh coconut water, but I didn't have the strength. Now that I'm stronger, I decided to try the sport and fulfill that childhood dream. Winning the first-ever title at home feels incredible, especially because I can bring glory to Hainan.\"
The addition of coconut tree climbing to the National Ethnic Games not only highlights the rich cultural traditions of Hainan but also brings fresh excitement to the sports scene. Who knows, maybe coconut tree climbing will be the next big thing! 😉
Reference(s):
12th National Ethnic Games: Hainan sweep coconut tree climbing titles
cgtn.com
