Estonians Rule in Wife-Carrying

Remember the name: Uusorg. Like Alou is to baseball, and Niedermayer is to hockey, Uusorg is to wife carrying. Madis Uusorg took first in the wife-carrying championships in Finland on Saturday, checking in with a winning time of 61.7 seconds. He is the brother of last year’s winner, Margo Uusorg, who holds the world record in the event at 56.9 seconds. It is not necessarily the race itself that interests me; it’s the history of the event that stirs my mind.

The race, held for the 12th time, is intended to evoke the spirit of a legendary Finnish brigand, Rosvo-Ronkainen, who made those who wanted to join his gang run through a forest carrying heavy sacks on their backs.

Now that’s what I’m talking about. See, I can get down with sports and competitions that have real-life practical value. Baseball? Pffh. Wife-carrying, that’s a man’s game.

(story via Fark, image courtesy REUTERS/Tommi Korpihalla/Lehtikuva)