From Twickenham to the Super Bowl: A history of streaking in sports

Author:
Nicole Conlan
Publish date:
Aug 4, 2014

Today is the 39th anniversary of Michael Angelow’s infamous streaking incident during a game of cricket between England and Australia.

While Michael Angelow was a pioneer of Renaissance art… oh sorry, wrong Michaelangelo. While Angelo was one of the pioneers of sports streaking, the practice has a long, storied history at home and overseas. So let’s look through the window of time and see what we can see (hopefully something naughty).

Throughout Time

The earliest confirmed incident of streaking occurred on July 5th, 1799 in London, when a man was arrested while attempting to run from Cornhill to Cheapside completely naked in exchange for 10 guineas (about a thousand dollars today). However, an unconfirmed earlier incident of streaking involved one of America’s founding families – it’s rumored that John Adams’ son Charles was caught running naked at Harvard in the 1780s (perhaps unsurprisingly, reports from the time indicate that “alcohol may have been involved.”)

In the 1970s, streaking gained more widespread popularity, especially on college campuses. The University of Georgia set a still-standing record for largest group streak on March 7th, 1974, and Tufts has held an annual Naked Quad Run since the 70s (which has been temporarily suspended due to – surprise – excess alcohol consumption).

Sports

The 1970s

Two famous incidents in 1974 kicked off the tradition of streaking at sporting events. The first was Michael O’Brien, a stockbroker from Australia who was dared £10 to run onto the field during an England v. Australia rugby match at Twickenham. A police officer held his helmet over O’Brien’s unmentionables, and this iconic photo was snapped:

The same year, “Miss Cyndi” skated onto the ice at an LA Kings game, where security apprehended her (after running onto the ice in regular shoes and falling).

In 1975, Angelow made his famous run through a cricket game, where this announcer referred to him as “not very shapely.” Ouch.

At the 1976 Montreal Olympics, this streaker made an appearance, and according to The Montreal Gazette, “no sooner had 500 young girls in white capes entered the stadium than a streaker, identified later by police as Michel Leduc of Montreal, dashed onto the field.” (Creepy)

After a few years, athletes decided they weren’t going to take it anymore. In 1977, Greg Chappell attacked a streaker with his cricket bat (Kinky)

The 1980s

The1980s is referred to (mostly just by me) as The Dark Ages of Streaking. Streaking was happening, but there weren’t any real game-changers during this time. In 1982, Erica Roe copied O’Brien’s Twickenham run, and as a result reportedly made £8 ,000 in modeling work.

And she wasn’t the only 80s streaker to dash for cash – Sheila Nicholls streaked at Lord’s cricket ground and went on to relative success as a recording artist.

While it’s great that these unclothed amateurs began to earn money for their labor, it does raise the question – did they sell out?

The 1990s

During the 1990s, streakers began to break away from team sports and move into individual player sports. Melissa Johnson became Wimbledon’s first streaker in 1996, during the Men’s singles final between Richard Krajicek and MaliVai Washington.

In 1999, Yvonne Robb ran onto the course and kissed Tiger Woods, wearing only underwear (worth noting: if the genders were reversed, the offender would have received a much more serious punishment).

Sexual assault aside, Robb paved the way for Jacqui Salmond to streak onto the course at St. Andrews during the 2000 British Open.

The 2000s… and beyond!

More recently, new innovations in the world of nudity have revolutionized the way streaking enthusiasts can embarrass themselves, and also presented them with new challenges. In 2005, Germany’s FC HansaRostock sued three streakers for €20,000 – the amount the football club was fined for “failing to maintain adequate security.”

In 2006, Olympic streaker Mark Roberts changed the game by combining two things that have historically never annoyed anybody: streaking and prop comedy. Roberts ran onto the men’s bronze medal curling match at the Winter Olympics with a rubber chicken covering his manhood (maybe he couldn’t find the other kind of rubber?).

It’s worth taking a moment to appreciate Roberts’ extensive work as a streaker – with over 500 credits to his name, he's one of the world's most prolific streakers. At this point, so many people have seen his privates, we should call them his publics. According to his website, he’s currently seeking a ghostwriter for his book (though if I were him, I would find a new web designer first).

One of Roberts’ most underappreciated nude moments occurred during Super Bowl XXXVIII, where he made a naked rush on the field until he was taken out by Matt Chatham.

Unfortunately, that year Janet Jackson stole Roberts’ thunder with a famous streaking performance of her own.

What does the future hold for the world of drunk people taking their clothes off and interrupting sporting events? It’s hard to say. But one thing’s for sure – this is an exciting time for nudity!

Streaking at Sporting Events

Kevin Reece/Icon SMI

A fan runs on the field in a thong during a game between Montana State and Portland State.

Richard Krajicek and MaliVai Washington smile as an unidentified streaker runs across the the Center Court at Wimbledon before the men's final.

streaker is arrested during a 1974 match between England and Wales.

"Serial streaker" Mark Roberts dances on the field during a game between the Giants and Dolphins at Wembley Stadium.

Gloucester's Iain Balshaw is confronted by a streaker during the Guinness Premiership match between Bristol and Gloucester in Bristol, England.

Australia's Andrew Symonds knocks over a streaker who ran onto the field during the Commonwealth Bank Series One Day International match between Australia and India in Brisbane, Australia.

A Florda fan gets an up-close view of the action during a 2003 World Series game between the Marlins and Yankees.

howard-earl-simmonsny-daily-news-archive-via-getty-images.jpg — Howard Earl Simmons/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

A Mets fans slides into second base during a game at Citi Field. (Howard Earl Simmons-NY-Daily-News-Archive-via-Getty Images)

John Daly and his wife, Paulette, watch a streaker being tackled on the 18th green at St. Andrews.

A streaker dives into the water by the 18th green as Paul McGinley (R) of Europe shakes hands with JJ Henry of the U.S. after they halved their match on the final day of the 2006 Ryder Cup.

Julien Crosnier/DPPI/Icon SMI

A streaker interrupts the Wimbledon match between Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva.

A streaker introduces himself to Lauren of Arsenal before being wrestled to the ground by security during a match between Chelsea and Arsenal.

A streaker invades the 18th green and holds the flag just before the arrival of Tiger Woods during the 2000 British Open at St. Andrews.

A streaker runs through the field during the first rugby union test match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Ireland.

during a game between Calgary and Boston. The streaker fell to the ice and was taken off on a stretcher.

A streaker invades the pitch during a 2008 cricket match between England and South Africa at Edgbaston, central England.

Members of the Calgary Flames look on from the bench as a streaker blowing a whistle runs by during the game between the Flames and Panthers.

tadium court prior to halftime of a Duke North Carolina basketball game. The student was charged with indecent exposure and another misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct for the stunt.

A streaker runs across the field moments before an NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Sydney Roosters in Brisbane, Australia.

A streaker is chased by a security guard during the ladies free skating program at the 2004 World Figure Skating championships in Dortmund, Germany.

Even Snooker is susceptible to streakers as this man proved when he disrupted the 2004 Embassy World Snooker Final between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Graeme Dott in Sheffield, England.