Canadian Wins World Laughing Championship After Cracking Up at Himself

 

- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 

 

Kelly Podlubny of Vancouver has been crowned the 2025 World Laughing Champion, making history by defeating international rivals through the ancient art of not taking himself too seriously.

 

Podlubny, already the reigning Canadian Laughing Champion, powered through nine gruelling laughter challenges including The Diabolical Laugh, The Sexiest Laugh, and the Laugh at the State of the World, arguably the hardest to pull off without crying. However, there was a category for Laughing While Crying too. Podlubny narrowly defeated Russian Laughing Champion Anzhelika Ilechenko of Yakutsk in a finale that came down to who could laugh hardest at their own expense.

Other top contenders included American Laughing Champion Bobbi Gould and South Africa’s Meagan Swain, whose sultry performance in The Sexiest Laugh category had judges fanning themselves. But in the end, it was Podlubny’s ability to weaponize self-mockery that sealed the deal.

 

“I’ve got a lot of material,” Podlubny admitted, referencing his own past struggles, including overcoming substance use. “So I just went for it.”

 

This marks the 5th edition of the World Laughing Championship, and the first time a Canadian has won. 

 

The World Laughing Championship which is judged on it’s contagious effect on a Zoom audience, was founded by Laughologist and filmmaker Albert Nerenberg, who was inspired after watching two MMA fighters burst out laughing mid-staredown.

“If punching people in the face can be a sport, why not a sport dedicated to contagious joy?” he said. 

 

Official Rankings The 2025 World Laughing Championship 

 

2025 World Laughing Champion: Kelly Podlubny, CANADA

Runner Up Anzhelika Ilechenko, RUSSIA

Best Diabolical Laugh, Kerstin Spoer, GERMANY

Sexiest Laugh, Meagen Swain, SOUTH AFRICA