Alabama's Unique Olympic Events: A Gold Medal Fantasy

If watermelon seed spitting were an Olympic sport, could you clinch the gold?

Our friends at This is Alabama posed an intriguing question to their Facebook followers: what Olympic event do you think Alabamians would dominate? The responses were both creative and entertaining.

While the average Alabamian might not excel on the Pommel horse or in track and field, we’d undoubtedly shine in events like kudzu climbing or Moon Pie discus. And let's not forget, running from yellow jackets after disturbing their nest with a lawnmower is practically a state pastime.

Here’s a look at some of the Alabama-themed Olympic events suggested by readers:

Driving Events

• Fastest spin in the median to reach the boiled peanut stand across the highway – Alicia Garst Pescod
• Driving in the left lane under the speed limit, seeing who can hold up the most cars – Mike Terry
• Navigating a roundabout without anyone ignoring the yield signs or stopping unnecessarily – Beth Payne Holley
• Dodging potholes – Tom Rogers
• Backing in a boat trailer for entertainment – Shanda Godwin Williams

Bug-Related Events

• Running from a nest of yellow jackets hit with the lawnmower – Burt Franklin
• Spider web Ninjitsu – Johnny Harris
• Cockroach-stomping – Michelle Irvin
• Fire ant dancing – Lee Hallmark
• Chasing and catching lightning bugs – Barbara Veal
• Gnat swatting – Chuck Bennett
• June bug on a thread flying – Dianne Manning

Sponsored Events

• Bass Pro Shop fish tank swimming – Michelle Miklik
• Conecuh sausage hot dog eating contest – Kimberly Victoria Anastasia Johnson
• Florabama Mullet Toss – Jeff Williams
• Walmart cart racing – Laura Daughtry
• Dollar General obstacle course – Valerie Kelsey

Food Events

• Watermelon seed spitting – Dark Rush
• Barbecue wing eating contest – Carol Hay
• Cornbread eating contest – first to cough is out – Kathy Martin
• Grits slurping – eating a bowl of piping hot grits without burning – Dalton Pope
• Moon Pie discus – David Johnson
• Ice cold sweet tea drinking contest – Deanna Gray Lankford

Weather Events

• Tornado spotting – reading weather radar better than TV meteorologists – Anthony Wood
• Barefoot 100-yard dash on 140-degree asphalt – Jeannine Hall Bailes
• Sweat bucket challenge – who can fill a bucket with sweat first – Corrinne Dawn Murphree
• Breathing in summer’s humidity – Karen Walker Stewart

Miscellaneous Events

• Kudzu climbing – Kristen Mousseau Burgess
• Most uses for duct tape – Rose Till Barbour
• College football smack talk – Tim Henderson
• Allowing sweet Southern grannies to cut in the checkout line before breaking a smile – Keely St. Holmes Harris