Competitive Endurance facts

While investigating facts about Competitive Endurance, I found out little known, but curios details like:

Long-distance swimming is unique among the world's various athletic competitions. It is one of very few endurance sports where there are women's records that beat men's records under equal conditions, especially as the distances increases.

"competitive endurance tickling" is a thing, and that it apparently has a seedy criminal underbelly filled with personal attacks, legal threats, and manipulation

In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 9 of the best facts about Competitive Endurance I managed to collect.

1. The World Sauna Championships were held annually in Finland from 1999 until 2010. Contestants would start in tempartures above the boiling point of water and whoever could endure the longest would win. The competition folded after a contestant died when he effectively cooked himself inside.

2. There is a real documentary about a "competitive endurance tickling" that turned out to be a scheme trapping people in a "ticklish" nightmare they couldn't walk away from

3. In 2004 a reality TV show called "Shattered" had contestants endure sleep deprivation for 7 days, with contestants suffering from hallucinations and hypnagogia in competition to win £100,000.

4. Knights would go from town to town in the dark ages competing in lancing competitions. Since there were not sworn to a lord they were known as a free-lance. Today the term endures, Freelancer!

5. Some Alaskans participate in 'Ear Endurance' competitions in which competitors attach a cord to each other's ear and pull to see whose ear can hold on the longest.

6. "competitive endurance tickling" videos are a thing, where young athletic men are restrained and tickled by each other. Former participants also describe manipulative treatment, defamation campaigns, exposing of personal information and threats by the producers.

7. Competitive Endurance Tickling is a thing