Wife-carrying facts for kids
Wife carrying is a super fun and unique sport where people race while carrying a partner! It's known by different names in other languages, like eukonkanto in Finnish. Even though it's called "wife carrying," the rules are open to everyone. Most teams have one person carrying another, and there are no strict rules about gender or if people are married. The main goal is to carry your teammate through a special obstacle course as fast as you can. This exciting sport started in 1992 in Sonkajärvi, Finland.
There are a few ways to carry your partner. You can use a classic piggyback ride, a "fireman's carry" (over the shoulder), or the "Estonian style." In the Estonian style, the person being carried hangs upside-down on the carrier's back, with their legs over the carrier's neck and shoulders. It looks tricky but is very effective!
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The Story Behind Wife Carrying
The sport of wife carrying began in Finland, a country known for its unique traditions. There are some interesting old stories about how it all started. One popular tale is about a man named Herkko Rosvo-Ronkainen, also known as Ronkainen the Robber. He lived in a forest in the late 1800s.
People say that Ronkainen and his group were very strong and fast. One idea is that they trained by carrying heavy sacks on their backs. This helped them become quicker and tougher. Another story suggests that the name "wife carrying" comes from old traditions where people would carry partners on their backs, perhaps as a challenge or a way to show strength and speed. These stories eventually inspired the fun and competitive sport we know today.
Even though the origin stories are old legends, the sport itself is taken very seriously by competitors. Just like any other sport, athletes train hard to win! Wife carrying competitions are now held all over the world. You can find them in countries like Australia, the United States, India, Germany, and the United Kingdom. It's even listed in the Guinness Book of Records for its unique challenges!
How to Play: The Rules of Wife Carrying
The original race courses were very tough, with rocks, fences, and streams. Today, the courses are a bit safer but still challenging! They often have sand, fences, and a water obstacle, like a pool. Here are some of the main rules set by the International Wife Carrying Competition Committee:
- The most important rule is to have fun!
- The official race track is about 253.5 metres (832 ft) long.
- The course includes two dry obstacles and one water obstacle, which is about one meter deep.
- The person being carried must be over 17 years old.
- Remember, the word "wife" in this sport is just a fun name for the person being carried, no matter their gender or relationship status. This rule was updated in February 2023!
- The person being carried must weigh at least 49 kilograms (108 lb). If they weigh less, extra weight is added to a backpack to reach 49 kg.
- The only gear allowed is a belt for the carrier and a helmet for the person being carried.
- Teams race in pairs, competing against each other in heats.
- Safety is very important, and participants should always follow the organizers' instructions.
- In the World Championships, the team that finishes the course fastest wins!
- Special awards are also given for the most entertaining couple, the best costume, and the strongest carrier.
While these are the international rules, some local competitions might have slight variations. The Wife Carrying World Championships happen every year in Sonkajärvi, Finland, since 1992. The amazing prize there is the carried person's weight in beer!
The Sonkajärvi Wife Carrying Ltd owns the official trademark for Wife Carrying. They work with partners around the world who are allowed to host licensed competitions.
Champions of the World
Many amazing teams have won the Wife Carrying World Championships over the years. Here are some of the champions:
- 1996 –
Jouni Jussila and Tiina Jussila, 65.0 seconds. - 1997 – Jouni Jussila and Tiina Jussila, 65.0 seconds.
- 2018 –
Vytautas Kirkliauskas and Neringa Kirkliauskiene, 65.1 seconds. - 2019 – Vytautas Kirkliauskas and Neringa Kirkliauskiene, 66.7 seconds.
- 2020 – Event not held
- 2021 – Event not held
- 2022 – Taisto Miettinen and Katja Kovanen, 67.4 seconds.
- 2023 – Taisto Miettinen and Katja Kovanen, 66.4 seconds.
- 2024 – Vytautas Kirkliauskas and Neringa Kirkliauskiene, 63.5 seconds.
- 2025 –
Caleb Roesler and Justine Roesler, 61.1 seconds.
Wife Carrying Around the World
Wife Carrying in Australia
Australia has hosted its own Wife Carrying Championships every year since 2005. These exciting events bring together teams from all over the country to compete. The most recent champions in 2023 were Elliott Earnshaw and Adelaide Taylor.
North American Championships
The North American Wife Carrying Championships have been held annually since 1999. This big event takes place every October at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. In 2022, Caleb Roesler and Justine Roesler were the champions.
Wife Carrying in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom Wife Carrying Race started in 2008. Some stories suggest that similar carrying challenges might have happened in the UK for a very long time, perhaps even inspired by old Viking traditions. The most recent champions in 2025 were Stuart Johnson and Hattie Cronin.
Wife Carrying in the United States
In the US, a major competition called the MN-St. Urho Wife Carry for Charity Challenge happens every July in Menahga, Minnesota. Other big wife-carrying events are also held in places like Monona, Wisconsin, Minocqua, Wisconsin and Marquette, Michigan.
See also
- Cheese rolling
- Kinetic sculpture race
- Wok racing
- Zoobomb
- Bog snorkelling
- Sepak takraw
