Culture What is the Wife-Carrying World Championship in Finland?

What is the Wife-Carrying World Championship in Finland?

-

- Advertisment -
ADVERTISEMENT

The Wife-Carrying World Championship – known as Eukonkanto – starts today and runs until tomorrow in Sonkajärvi, in the Northern Savonia region of Finland.

Held since 1992, the annual sporting event involves male participants carrying their female partners on their backs through a challenging obstacle course, which features water, hurdles and sand pits.

Not just a test of physical strength and endurance, the championship centers around communication, mutual trust, and teamwork. And a love of brew too, as the winning couple don’t receive a medal or a cash prize but the wife’s weight in beer.

“Kippis” to that!

What are the rules?

Finland's Nate Buchanan carrying Kara Buchanan in the Wife Carrying World Championships in Sonkajarvi, Finland - Saturday 2 July 2022
Finland’s Nate Buchanan carrying Kara Buchanan in the Wife Carrying World Championships in Sonkajarvi, Finland – Saturday 2 July 2022AP Photo
  • The minimum weight of the wife to be carried is 49kg. If she weighs less, the wife will be burdened with a rucksack containing additional weight.
  • The female participant does have to be legally married to their male partner, but she does have to be 17-years-old, or above.
  • The official track length is 253.5 metres.
  • The track contains two “dry obstacles” and a “water obstacle” that is around one metre deep.
  • The only equipment permitted during the race is a helmet worn by the female competitor and a belt by the male competitor.
  • Several types of “carry” are possible: A piggyback, a fireman’s lift (over the shoulder), or Estonian-style (the wife hangs upside-down with her legs around the husband’s shoulders, holding onto his waist).
  • Each competitor is responsible for his or her own safety… and insurance.

NB: These are the international rules set by the International Wife-Carrying Competition Rules Committee, but rules can vary depending on the competition, as these contests have taken place in Australia, Estonia, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Sweden, the UK, and other parts of the world.

Where does this tradition come from?

Finland's Wife-Carrying World Championship
Finland’s Wife-Carrying World ChampionshipAP Photo

The competition is said to be based on the 19th-century legend of Herman “Herkko” Ronkainen – or: ‘Ronkainen the Robber’ – who supposedly tested aspiring members of his gang by making them lug heavy sacks of grain or live swine around obstacle courses.

Another version of this tall tale is that Herman and his thieves were accused of stealing food and abducting women from villages, then carrying these women on their backs as they ran away. Hence the “wife” or woman carrying.

What’s new in 2025?

Neringa Kirkliauskiene and Vytautas Kirkliauskas celebrate their victory in 2019
Neringa Kirkliauskiene and Vytautas Kirkliauskas celebrate their victory in 2019AP Photo

This year, the competition has announced that a record number of participants – more than 200 people from 18 different nationalities – will take part.

For the first time, a seperate women’s category has been introduced this year, with five pairs reportedly registered.

Among the participants aiming to dethrone 2024 World Champions Vytautas Kirkliauskas and Neringa Kirkliauskiene from Lithuania (pictured above) is Severi Allonen, who was named Finland’s Strongest Man in 2024.

“This competition has always intrigued me a bit, and I see it as a great opportunity to create interesting content for social media,” said Allonen. “I also believe my strengths are well-suited for this sport, so I had to give it a try.”

Best of luck to him, as Kirkliauskas and Kirkliauskiene have won the competition three times already – in 2018, 2019 and 2024.

They are not, however, the record holders of the event. Taisto Miettinen and Katja Kovanen of Finland currently hold the most Wife-Carrying wins, having emerged victorious eight times – in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2022 and 2023.

“Preparations have gone according to plan so far, with the final push being the construction of the course,” said Joni Juntunen, Chairman of the Board of Eukonkanto Oy. “Interest in the event has been strong, so we hope the audience will come out to enjoy the unique atmosphere of wife carrying and have fun with great music in the evenings.”

The 28th Wife-Carrying World Championship takes place on 4 & 5 July in Sonkajärvi, Finland.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest news

Art Wars: Everything you need to know about George Lucas’ new museum

ADVERTISEMENT After decades of shaping galaxies far, far away, George Lucas finally made his debut at San Diego Comic-Con - the annual pop culture mega-event. It was Sunday afternoon when the 81-year-old veteran filmmaker, dressed, in his usual flannel shirt and jeans, stepped on stage at the convention to thunderous applause, with John Williams’ iconic

Why is Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ shoot accused of colonialism?

ADVERTISEMENT Oscar-winning British-American director Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Inception, Oppenheimer) has been accused of “violating ethical standards” by the organisers of the Western Sahara International Film Festival (FiSahara).   Nolan has been shooting part of his upcoming film The Odyssey, an adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem starring Matt Damon, Charlize Theron and Zendaya

Artists revolt against Spotify over CEO’s investment in AI warfare

ADVERTISEMENT The prolific Australian psych-rock group King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard is the latest band to cut ties with Spotify in protest of CEO Daniel Ek's increasing ties with the arms industry - specifically his investment in a controversial AI-driven military tech firm. Ek co-founded the investment firm Prima Materia, which has invested heavily

Sydney Sweeney jeans ad backlash intensifies with viral takedown

ADVERTISEMENT American actress Sydney Sweeney has come under fire for a controversial ad campaign with fashion retailer American Eagle, which has divided opinions due to its wordplay in the slogan “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.”  Now, Doja Cat has joined in on the backlash surrounding the ads, posting a now-viral video on TikTok that sees
- Advertisement -

Palestinian who worked on Oscar-winning ‘No Other Land’ killed

ADVERTISEMENT A Palestinian activist, journalist and community leader has been shot and killed in front of a community centre in a village near Hebron, in occupied West Bank - a village which was documented in the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.  Local officials have said that an Israeli settler killed Awdah Hathaleen, who helped make

Explained: Why is Sydney Sweeney’s fashion ad being called ‘Nazi’?

ADVERTISEMENT A new ad campaign featuring Euphoria and White Lotus star Sydney Sweeney has sparked fierce backlash over racial undertones, leading some to label it as “tone-deaf” and even “Nazi”. Another case of Godwin’s law – which states that any online discussion that goes on for long enough will increase the probability of a comparison

Must read

Art Wars: Everything you need to know about George Lucas’ new museum

ADVERTISEMENT After decades of shaping galaxies far, far away, George Lucas finally made his debut at San Diego Comic-Con - the annual pop culture mega-event. It was Sunday afternoon when the 81-year-old veteran filmmaker, dressed, in his usual flannel shirt and jeans, stepped on stage at the convention to thunderous applause, with John Williams’ iconic

Why is Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ shoot accused of colonialism?

ADVERTISEMENT Oscar-winning British-American director Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight, Inception, Oppenheimer) has been accused of “violating ethical standards” by the organisers of the Western Sahara International Film Festival (FiSahara).   Nolan has been shooting part of his upcoming film The Odyssey, an adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem starring Matt Damon, Charlize Theron and Zendaya
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you