Eukonkannon MM-kisat

Eukonkannon MM-kisat (Wife-Carrying World Championship) is Finland’s quirkiest and most entertaining sporting event, held every July in the town of Sonkajärvi. Male competitors race through a challenging 253.5-meter obstacle course while carrying a female teammate—traditionally a “wife,” though not necessarily their own—using techniques ranging from the classic piggyback to the famous “Estonian carry” (upside-down). The winning couple earns the wife’s weight in beer, adding to the festival’s playful spirit. Combining athleticism, humor, and local tradition, the Wife-Carrying World Championship has become an internationally famous event that draws competitors and spectators from around the globe.