In one of the world’s most unusual and entertaining sporting events, Finland hosted its iconic Wife-Carrying World Championship, drawing in thrill-seekers, couples, and curious spectators from across the globe.
Held annually in the small town of Sonkajärvi, the event challenges male competitors to carry their female partners through an obstacle-filled 253.5-meter course — featuring water hazards, sand traps, and hurdles — all in the fastest time possible.
But what truly makes this race legendary is the prize: the winner receives their wife’s weight in beer!
- Over 80 couples from 14 countries participated
- The winning couple clocked in at just 1 minute 6 seconds
- Winners took home 61.2 kg of beer — the exact weight of the “carried” wife
- Special awards were also given for “Most Entertaining Couple” and “Strongest Carrier”
“It’s the most fun you can have with your spouse while sprinting through mud and water!” laughed one participant from Germany.
The origins of the event date back to a 19th-century legend involving bandits and bride-stealing, but today it has become a celebration of fun, fitness, and teamwork — with a good dose of Finnish humor.
International tourists and social media influencers have made the event a viral sensation, turning Sonkajärvi into a once-a-year sporting hotspot.
With music, costumes, laughter, and barrels of beer, the Wife-Carrying Championship proves yet again that when it comes to love and sport, Finland knows how to carry the weight—literally!
