Put a cork in it

Spraying champagne to celebrate a sporting achievement is the norm now, but why?

Surely if you’re presented with a magnum of champagne as a prize for your success the courteous thing to do would be to actually drink it, instead of pouring it over anyone and everyone around you?

My good friend Matt Brown wanted me to explore why sports people actually do this, so here’s the very very brief history:

The tradition was started in 1967 by American Ford racing driver, Daniel Gurney after he won Le Mans 24 hour race. He sprayed it at everyone in the crowd including the press and photographers to try and break their cameras.

Him and his teammate were voted “least likely to succeed” in the race, and they won it, beating the favourited Ferrari’s too.

But now that’s the tradition. Douse everything withing spraying distance with expensive champagne.

Here are four videos of what I mean, if you don’t know already. And a very interesting interpretation of the celebration by Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh.