A competitor slips off the "gostra", a pole covered in lard, during the celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, Malta, Aug. 26, 2018. (Photos: VCG)

A competitor grabs the final flag as he slips off the "gostra", a pole covered in lard, during the celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, Malta August 26, 2018.

A competitor falls off the "gostra", a pole covered in lard, during the celebrations of the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, Malta August 26, 2018.

A competitor plunges into the sea while clutching the final flag after falling off the "gostra", a pole covered in lard, during the celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, Malta August 26, 2018.

A competitor falls off the "gostra", a pole covered in lard, during the celebrations of the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, Malta August 26, 2018.

A Belgian flag flies beneath the town parish church as hunters fire a fusillade of gunshots in a traditional salute during the celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron saint of hunters and of the town of St Julian's, Malta August 26, 2018.

A Belgian flag with a picture of St Julian is seen after the "gostra" competition, in which participants have to run up a pole covered in lard, during the celebrations for the religious feast of St Julian, patron of the town of St Julian's, Malta August 26, 2018.