Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

Russian duo win wife carrying race

The World Wife Carrying Championship has taken place in Finland, with a couple from Russia clinching the title after having come third last year.

WIFE CARRYING
Anastasia Loginova and Dimitry Sagal of Russia (L), Minna Piippo and Ilpo Haavisto of Finland (C) and Eva Scharinger and Rene Marce Haider of Austria (R). Source: AAP

A couple from Russia have clinched the World Wife Carrying Championship title, organisers in central Finland say.

Dmitriy Sagal carried his female teammate Anastasia Loginova around the 253-metre sand track in 1 minute and 2 seconds.

Some 35 couples from almost a dozen countries, including Australia, Germany, Sweden and the United States, competed in Saturday's race at the Sonkajarvi track, which includes a one-metre deep water obstacle.

Carrying styles vary, but in most cases the woman is carried upside-down over her teammate's shoulders.

The winning Russian duo had finished third last year. At a close second, five seconds behind the winners, were Finnish couple Taisto Miettinen and Kristiina Haapanen.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Finland's Ville Parvaianen, who won in 2014 and 2015 - albeit with different partners - finished third with teammate Janette Oksanen.

The rules state that contestants do not have to be married, but that female teammates must weigh at least 49 kilograms and be at least 17 years old.

They also state that "all the participants must have fun."

The wife carrying contest is one of several wacky competitions held during the summer in the Nordic country. Another event is the world air guitar championships.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world