The sport dates back to the Middle Ages.
Barstool Sports, a world-renowned sports account with 13.6M followers on Instagram featured il-gostra, one of the best-known traditional games played locally.
Calling it ‘the greatest sport you’ve never heard of’, the account shared a reel of gostra participants in action, attempting to reach the flags of the slippery pole.
The video, which was liked by 168K followers and viewed 5.9M times, received countless comments from curious followers while some followers seemed to know all about this Maltese tradition commonly played during the hot summery days.
The gostra tradition dates back to the Middle Ages and is still played in some seaside towns such as Msida and St. Julians, to this very day. The sport involves a wooden pole of around 10 to 16 metres with three flags attached to the end of the pole leading over the sea.
The pole is covered in animal fat or grease and the courageous player has to try with all his might to run or climb to the far end of the pole to grab the flag before splashing into the sea below! Some go home with trophies, flags and satisfaction. However, many go home, wet with a couple of bruises!
Thank you, Barstool Sports for shining a spotlight on one of our many traditions!