Orangutans have long been considered one of the smartest animals and the closest to humans genetically. While humans excel in many areas, when it comes to raw strength and endurance, we’re no match for orangutans. This was perfectly shown in a recent arm hang showdown between a famous male gymnast and an orangutan.
Of course, no one in the world is more confident at hanging from a bar than gymnasts, since it’s a basic exercise they train nonstop throughout their careers. On the other hand, orangutans naturally swing from trees all day long. This matchup seemed pretty even at first, but the outcome was surprisingly one-sided.
The rules were simple: both the gymnast and the orangutan had to hang from a 3-meter-high bar. Whoever held on the longest would win. At first, the gymnast smiled confidently, but after just over a minute, the difference became obvious. The gymnast had to rest each arm repeatedly, while the orangutan looked calm and barely exerting any effort.
As time went on, the gymnast’s face showed clear pain and struggle. After 6 minutes and 30 seconds, the winner was declared: the orangutan.
Though this video dates back to 2004 and was produced by FOX, many online fans still find this unique contest fascinating. Some say the result was inevitable given how differently animals and humans develop muscle. Still, credit goes to the gymnast for lasting an impressive six and a half minutes.
