Wife Carrying
Timed obstacle race — a man carries a woman through a 253.5 m course with hurdles and a water pool.
👥2 per team🌤outdoor
What is Wife Carrying?
Wife carrying (eukonkanto) is a Finnish folk sport with an annual World Championship in Sonkajärvi since 1992. A man carries a woman ("wife" — need not be his own) through a 253.5 m obstacle course with two dry-land hurdles and a knee-deep water pool. Fastest time wins; the prize is the wife's weight in beer.
Quick facts
Category
Traditional & Cultural Sports
Type
Team sport
Players
2 per team
Where played
outdoor
Country of origin
🇫🇮 Finland
Estimated origin
Historical Finnish folk tradition; annual World Championship since 1992 (Sonkajärvi, Finland)
Olympic
No
Popularity
niche
Sources & provenance
Last verified 2026-08-24.verified