Hundreds of spectators gathered to watch the “course des cafés” or “cafes race” in Paris on Sunday, a one-of-a-kind competition featuring waiters racing while carrying a tray through the streets of France’s capital.
Men’s winner Samy Lamrous and top waitress Pauline Van Wymeersch walked the two-kilometer (1.2-mile) route in 13 minutes 30 seconds and 14 minutes 12 seconds respectively, holding a tray with a croissant, espresso, and a glass of water.
The winners will receive their medals along with a night’s stay in a luxury hotel.
Two hundred waiters took part in the event, which first began in 1914 and was held for the first time this year since 2011, four months before Paris hosts the Olympics in July and August.
The participants wore white shirts, dark trousers, and aprons that were provided by the contest’s organizers.
“A cafe or restaurant waiter is a really powerful icon of French culture,” said Pierre Rabadan, the deputy mayor in charge of sports and the Olympics.
A jury at the finish line checked to see how much of the contestants’ beverages might have spilled over in an unbalanced run.
The medalist waiters will be invited to join the Olympics opening ceremony on July 26.
