Related history; a great many mathematicians who intended to sit the Tripos at Cambridge (as Turing did) took up athleticism as part of their preparation. The exams were intended to be a grueling test of endurance as well as pure mathematical ability; the high scorers made physical fitness part of their preparations.

Back in the 1820s, eight days of examinations, five and a half hours a day, roughly 25% "pass rate" (i.e. 25% achieved wrangler status).