International King of Sports - Season 1

First aired: 9/15/2002 9 episodes

Episodes

1. Episode 1

Aired: 9/15/2002

In the first (broadcast) episode four unknown athletes from Australia, Germany, England and Japan compete for a place in the final to win the title of ""International King of Sports."" In this episode challenges the athletes must compete in were; Double Legged Hurdles: Just like 100m hurdles, but competitors must keep their feet together at all times. The kangaroo-hop required to excel at this event gives Australians a natural advantage, although a Japanese athlete won the first round.Speed Gun Run: The sprint event of this competition, athletes must wind up to maximum speed within 20 metres when their velocity is measured by a speed gun. The catch is they must simultaneously plough into an upright crash mat. Water Dive: A high-jumping contest where competitors leap head-first over the bar and into a diving pool with the aid of a small springboard. Slalom Run: Just like the skiers do at the Winter Olympics, but this event is atacked on foot via a grassy slope. The rugby pla

2. Episode 2

Aired: 9/21/2002

In the second episode athletes from Nigeria, Britain, Hungary and Australia attempt to join last weeks winner, Kengo Shiomi for a place in the final. Challenges they had to compete in this week were; 200m Under Hurdles: As opposed to the traditional ""over"" the athletes must dive under the hurdles while attempting to finish the race in first place. Hurdles are allowed to be moved or knocked over as long as the athletes go under. It was the Nigerian athlete who won this round, and almost set a new record for his speed. Backstroke Tug O'War: One-on-one in the pool. Athletes must pull the rope over a black line while doing the backstroke. If they attempt to play the game by standing and tugging points are taken off and they do not get a second try. In the first round it was Hungary vs Britain. Although the Brit athlete tried out a different approach it didn't pay off and he was beat in no time. In the second round it was Australia vs Nigeria. What seemed like hours to the athle

3. Episode 3

Aired: 9/29/2002

This weeks athletes from Jamaica, Britian, USA and France enter themselves in bizzare sporting events in attempt to join Kengo Shiomi (Japan) and Laszlo Fazekas (Hungary) in the final to win the title ""International King of Sports."" This weeks challenges were; Short Track Sprint: The 100m sprint, completed by lapping a circular 10m track ten times. If the athletes go out of the circle points are not added. The French athlete won this round with a time of 31.7 seconds. Shot-put Sprint: Athletes must run as fast as possible while throwing a 5kilo shot on a 100m track. Only one lap is required, but both the athlete and his shot must pass the line, instead of one or the other. Water Dive: A high-jumping contest where competitors leap head-first over the bar and into a diving pool with the aid of a small springboard. The British athlete won this round and his highest leap was 170cm.. equal to the World Record. Slalom Run: Just like the skiers do at the Winter Olympics, but thi

4. Episode 4

Aired: 10/6/2002

This weeks athletes were from; Nigeria, Great Britain, Japan and France. Challenges they took part in were; 200m: Backwards, around the bend. This game ended in style. With the Japanese athlete down, it gave Chima Ijeoma, from Nigeria, a great opportunity to come through.. but it was a mighty close thing. The British athlete almost had it, and despite problems around the bend, he forced himself into a winning position, but his ankle let him down and he collapsed literally metres from the finish, and although Ijeoma collapsed aswell, he'd already cleared the finish. Underwater Shot-putt: Athletes descend to the bottom of the pool, with their front foot inside the shot-put circle and throw the put as far as possible, without crossing the line. A difficult event and a mixture of techniques are involved - strength, explosive power, balance and breathing steadily.. if athletes don't take a deep breath before hitting the bottom they've no hope at all. The French athlete won this ro

5. Episode 5

Aired: 10/13/2002

This weeks athletes taking part in the bizzare challenges were from; Japan, Great Britain, USA and France. Challenges they took part in were: Back sprint: Athletes start in the official reverse set position. They run backwards to the finish. Although the Japanese athlete, Kanji did not beat the World Record time of 37.58 seconds, he did show some brilliant sprinting skills and his time came in at 41.03 secs. He best time ever. Speed gun Run: Athletes must achieve maximum speed before the end of the 20 second track. Their speed is measured the instant they hit the crash mat. The Japanese athlete won the second round, with a speed of 18.91 mph. The World Record is 20.05 mph Association Bobbage: The athletes jump in the pool from increasing heights. Their head must not go underwater. Wantabe got a red and white flag for his attempt, and unfortunately for him the one was enough to disqualify him. Stuart Crispin (GBR) won the challenge, and was 10m from breaking the World

6. Episode 6

Aired: 10/20/2002

Heat 6's athletes were; Jeremy Cox (Britain) Slawomir Rybazyk (Germany) Milek Jivens (USA) and Spencer Ellis (Jamaica) This weeks events were: 200m Under Hurdles: Athletes must dip under a series of 10 hurdles set along the track. They must pass under all the hurdles, or they will be disqualified. Although the Jamaican competitor won this event, he knocked one of his hurdles down and carried on running. Meaning Jives, from America, won, coming in shortly after Ellis. Underwater Shot-put: Athletes descend to the bottom of the pool, with their front foot inside the shot-put circle and throw the put as far as possible, without crossing the line. The German athlete won this event, with an amazing 3.83m. Water Jump: Athletes must run, spring over the bar and into the water. If they knock the bar down, they're disqualified. The German athlete also won this round, using a gymnast-like sumersault technique. Slalom Run: Just like the skiers do at the Winter Olympics, but th

7. Episode 7

Aired: 10/27/2002

Heat 7's athletes: Michael Weeks (Great Britain) Andrew Wilson (South Africa) Adam Horder (Australia) Shinya Nishitani (Japan) This weeks events were: Backstroke Tug of War: Two swimmers are joined by a rope. On the whistle each must attempt to pull the other over the line dividing their area. The African athlete won this by changing his technique, while his opponent struggle to survive. Shot-put Sprint: Athlete must run as fast as possible for 100metres whilst throwing a 5k shot. The British athlete won this event with a time of 28.71 seconds. High Board Long Jump: Athletes climb onto a 3 metre platform, then they run and boing into the pool, over the tape, which moves further and further away... starting at 7m. Although Weeks almost secured full points in this event his left thigh snapped when he made his second-to-last attempt, giving Andrew Wilson the full points. 10G Human Slalom: Just like the skiers do at the Winter Olympics, but this event is attacked on f

8. Episode 8

Aired: 11/3/2002

This weeks athletes were; Donnie Cramer (USA) William Pobie (GBR) Erwin Riess (GER) Paul Appon (GHA) Heat 8's bizzare events were: 10m Circle: The 100m sprint, completed by lapping a circular 10m track ten times. If the athletes go out of the circle points are not added. Water Jump: A high-jumping contest where competitors leap head-first over the bar and into a diving pool with the aid of a small springboard. Fall Down: The king of crazy sports. Defies human instinct and logic. Competitors must try to fall down faster than the other three guys. Success is measured by how quickly a competitor can bang his chin against the ground. Headlong Dive: Much like the long traditional jump, but competitors are required to land in the sandpit on their stomach. Feet are not allowed to touch the sand before the torso and distance is measured from the furthest outreached hand. Eye goggles are a must have. Although Pobie had a fear of water, and confessed he could not swim, it didn't

9. Episode 9

Aired: 11/10/2002

Backsprint Athletes start in the official reverse set position. They run backwards to the finish. World Record: 37.53 seconds. Winner: Lazlo Fasekas. His time came in at 37.83 seconds. International Skids Athletes must make the great, big, long skid down the track. But if they fall over, their skid is counterfiet. World Record: 44.05 metres Winner: Kenji Watanabe. He beat the World Record and the new one stands at 44.18m. Short Track Sprint: The 100m sprint, completed by lapping a circular 10m track ten times. If the athletes go out of the circle points are not added. World Record: 29.35 seconds. Winner: Brian Clarke. His time was 30.66 seconds. Underwater Shot-put: Athletes descend to the bottom of the pool, with their front foot inside the shot-put circle and throw the put as far as possible, without crossing the line. World Record: 4.35m Winner: Kengo Shiomi. He threw his put 4.21m. Water Jump Athletes must run, spring over the bar and into the water. I