Bog Snorkeling Is The Strangest Sport You've Never Heard Of [PHOTOS]

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Irish Bog Snorkeling Championships

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If you've never heard of Bog Snorkeling, we don't blame you. We hadn't either. Nevertheless, this past weekend, the Northern Ireland Bog Snorkeling championship took place in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, and people came out in droves to swim through the muddy course or to cheer others on.

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Competitors must swim the full length of a water-filled, 60-meter-long trench twice in the fastest time in order to win. The trenches, dug in a peat bog known as Peatlands Park, quickly fill with a nutrient rich, sloppy mess of mud.

When competing in a bog snorkel race, you are not allowed to use traditional swimming strokes. Instead, you can only use the power of your legs (with flippers on, of course).
Irish Bog Snorkeling Championships

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Both men and women compete in the timed trials, while fans watch and cheer.
Irish Bog Snorkeling Championships

Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Bog Snorkeling was conceived in a bar (where else?) in Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales in 1976, by a man named Gordon Green. The first championships were held in the same town, nine years later.
Irish Bog Snorkeling Championships

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Once finished, contestants are invited to take a dip in the "bog jacuzzi" to relax after the grueling race.
Irish Bog Snorkeling Championships

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A wetsuit isn't required, but most people wear one anyway. It makes it easier to wash off all that mud and peat.
Irish Bog Snorkeling Championships

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The world record holder for fastest time is Danika McGuire, who completed the race in one minute, 23 seconds. That's around 2.95 miles per hour. She was 18 at the time, but people of all ages come to compete in the races.
Irish Bog Snorkeling Championships

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The event just happens to occur on International Bog Day and all the proceeds went to charity.
Irish Bog Snorkeling Championships

Charles McQuillan/Getty Images