Remember When It Was Fun To Go 'Streaking'?

By Editorial Staff in Amazing On 22nd October 2016

Streaking, or running through a crowded area without any clothes on, was once the coolest way of protesting. In the middle 1970s, it was so popular that Ray Stevens had a hit song on the subject. Nobody really got hurt, and it usually resulted in an arrest for indecent exposure. While most cases of streaking are harmless fun, people are regularly arrested for streaking in public places and these public places are commonly sporting events.

#1 The First Streaker

The first recorded case of streaking was in 1799 in London. A man accepted a dare to run naked through town and it ended in him getting arrested. Five years later, the U.S. recorded its first streaking event at Washington College when George William Crump bared all during a run through Lexington, Virginia.

#2 The Guy Who Introduced It to Sports

The man credited with beginning the trend of streaking at sporting events was Michael O'Brien in 1974. He took to the field naked at a rugby match in England. Police caught up to him before he could reach his destination though they let him touch the fence on the other side of the field, which was his dare. The iconic photo of the event was Life Magazine's 'Picture Of The Year' in 1974.

#3 The Prolific Streakers

While most streakers don't make a habit of it, there are always exceptions. Mark Roberts has made a life of streaking and has done it at 500 sporting events in the past 18 years. He has streaked at The Super Bowl, Wimbledon, The World Cup, and the running of the bulls in Pamplona. Ho often advertises products on his bare body, though his fines and legal fees have cost him more money over they years than he has raked in.

#4 Scoring Streakers

When you take your clothes off and run naked onto a sports field, chances are you might come into contact with a few of the game players. Due to the inebriated state of most streakers, such an event usually leads to a massive takedown and possible concussion, but every once in a while a streaker actually manages to get a hold of the ball and score. Streaker of sports games, Jimmy Jump managed to get two scores in during different events, but unfortunately, they only counted on his permanent record.

#5 The Swinging, Streaking 70s

In 1973, an American university was hit with a streaking epidemic that resulted in the school being fully occupied with nude students every day for months. Stephen F. Austin State University was hit will a full on streaking bonanza as nubile young bodies wearing nothing but sneakers could be seen everywhere from the residence halls to football games. They even ran nude through the Spring Graduation, which caught the attention of the world news on CBS. Withing weeks, streaking was a full-fledged fad on college campuses all over the country.

#6 Streaking Records

The 'Epidemic of '73' led to one college declaring a national streaking day, and all over the US people were trying to break streaking records. The record for the largest group of streakers was made in 1974 when 1,573 University of Georgia students ran 3/4 of a mile together, totally naked except for sneakers and ski masks. They hold the record and ran three-quarters of a mile.

#7 Second Place Streakers

The second place record holders for the largest group of streakers goes to the University of Colorado and their 1,200 streakers. Of course, nobody in the 1970s would ever have dreamed that streaking would become a sporting event, and over the years many groups have tried to make it just that. Many groups and college organizations hold events that include streaking for sport.

#8 Setting Odd Records

Naked daredevils rode the Green Scream, at Southend's Adventure Island, in 2016 as they tried to top the 102 thrill-streakers who rode the same ride in 2010 and raised more than Â£20,000 for Southend Hospital's Bosom Pals Appeal. They ended up having over 600 naked riders and raised even more money for three different charities.

#9 Spanked Streaker

Streaking can go really wrong, as was the case for streaker Bruce McCauley who was spanked with a cricket bat by a cricketer by the name of Greg Chappell when he took to the field in an Australian match in 1977. McCauley was arrested, fined, and placed on probation for strutting his stuff.

#10 It's Not For Boys Only

While most prolific streakers are men, Lianne Crofts jiggled her way around the snooker table amidst appreciative cheers in the finals of the 1997 Masters between Steve Davis and Ronnie O'Sullivan. Another woman who dared to bare it all, named Yvonne Robb, streaked at a golf tournament and even managed to give Tiger Woods a naked kiss in 1999. It didn't effect Woods game, and the woman was fined for her performance.

#11 Peaceful Streaker At The Academy Awards

One of the most publicized streaking events ever was at the 1974 Oscars presentation. A man named Robert Opel streaked across the stage as David Niven introduced Elizabeth Taylor, wearing nothing but a peace sign and a smile!

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