Australia's 'Dropbears' Triumph At Quidditch World Cup, Which Is A Real Thing

Growing disillusioned with the Olympics? Turn your attention, instead, to the true sports story of 2016.

Australia has snagged the crown at the 2016 IQA Quidditch World Cup, which is a real thing in a real sentence you just read.

The Aussie Dropbears (actual team-name) triumphed over the previously-undefeated United States, claiming the cup with 150 to 130 in the Harry Potter-inspired sporting grand final.

Never mind that team captain James Mortensen is not actually a Harry Potter fan, and only started playing to impress a girl. Here's an artist's impression:

It’s an incredible underdog story, considering the U.S. has more than 10,000 Quidditch players from which to choose. And yet, under coach Gen Gibson, Australia, with a smaller talent pool, still managed to crush Belgium, Slovakia, Ireland, Germany, France and Canada before facing off against the Yanks, who previously defeated Australia in the 2015 World Cup.

(All of these games took place in Frankfurt, Germany over the weekend, FYI. Quidditch is nothing if not whip-fast, so long as you can nab that snitch.)

Obviously, live-action Quidditch does not involve any flying, yet players must still ride broomsticks as they run across the field. Though explaining it briefly to non-Harry Potter readers is impossible, take this description from the game’s official rulebook, which describes it as “a co-ed contact sport with a unique mix of elements from rugby, dodgeball, wrestling, flag football, and other sports.”

Got it? Nope? Look, all that matters is that Australia won.

Bless you, mighty Dropbears. You’ve earned yourselves some Butterbeers, that’s for sure.

Photo: Facebook / Quidditch Australia.