Amidst the Principality of Sealand’s overwhelming success at
the 2013 Videographer Olympics, fans were disappointed by the lack of
competition at the games.
Sealand’s Brittany and Grant dominated five of the seven
events held on January 31, in Shanks Hall, and earned the ire of the crowd for
their continued dominance.
“It was nerve racking,” Brittany said. “Everyone wanted us
to disqualify.”
Some especially bitter competitors even accused the
Sealanders of using performance-enhancing drugs, a contention they strongly
deny.
“We definitely didn’t cheat,” said Brittany.
Grant took home the top prizes for the pro sections of the
camera and microphone set-up events, while Brittany claimed first place in the
amateur section of the gear pack up competition, in addition to the amateur
camera and microphone set-ups.
Both competitors claim the intense disapproval of the crowd
fueled their desire to win.
“When somebody says you can’t do something, you get mad, and
that just makes you want to do it more,” Brittany said. “It makes you perform
better.”
Middle Earth’s Ashley and Ireland’s Jess were the lone
winners from outside Sealand, taking the pro gear pack up and XLR cable wrap
events respectively.
“It was a surprise,” Jess said. “I didn’t think I was going
to win, especially after watching the other competitors.”
The cable-wrapping event was the last contest of the
afternoon, and was undoubtedly a difficult one, as it involved wrapping a 50-foot
cable and had three competitors disqualified.
However, Jess was able to finish successfully in just 33
seconds, earning the adulation of a crowd frustrated with constant Sealand
victories.
“Hearing your name in the midst of all the chants of
‘Sealand, Sealand, Sealand,’ throughout the stadium was just a really nice
break, and it does break up the monotony,” said Jess.
In the midst of Grant and Brittany’s supremacy, Ireland’s
victory sent out the games with a twist.
“I don’t try to brag usually, but when children look at me,
they see the person they want to be,” Jess said. “They say, that’s a model they
want to put their life after.”
