Andy Lee of Los Alamos jumps into the ‘Wife Pond’ with wife Devon Lee on his back at the 2024 Wife Carrying World Championships on July 5 in Sonkajärvi, Finland. Photo by Kindra McAllister

Kindra McAllister, Andy Lee, Kalob Bowman and Taylor McAllister win bronze in a team event at the 2024 Wife Carrying World Championships on July 5 in Sonkajärvi, Finland. Photo by Devon Noel Lee

SPORTS News:

The sun shone brightly on Sonkajärvi, Finland, as Andy and Devon Lee of Los Alamos sprinted, splashed  and soared their way to success at the 2024 Wife Carrying World Championships. This dynamic duo, who marked their 25th wedding anniversary this year, showcased not only their athletic prowess but also their unwavering commitment to each other and their health.

The Wife Carrying World Championships (“Eukonkanto” in Finnish) originated in Sonkajärvi, Finland, in 1992. Inspired by a local legend and historical anecdotes, the sport has the husband carry his wife through an obstacle course. In 1995, they began allowing international competitors, and between 80 and 100 people competed each year. The racecourse is 253.5 meters long and features a series of challenging obstacles, including two fence rails and a water obstacle known as the “Wife Pond”, which is more than 1 meter deep.

The annual competition includes three events:

• Main series, which is the full course as described above;
• Sprint, which is a shorter, high-speed race with only the “Wife Pond” obstacle; and
• Team relay event.

In the team relay event, three men take turns carrying one woman through the standard course, with each man completing one section of the course and passing the “wife” after completing an obstacle and chugging a half liter of sparkling water.

In a heartwarming display of dedication, Andy, 47, and Devon, 48, embarked on a transformative journey over the past year. After finishing 39th out of 40 teams in 2023, Andy proposed another shot at glory. Devon set a bold challenge: both must shed 30 pounds before returning to compete. Rising to the occasion, Andy lost an impressive 40 pounds, while Devon achieved her 30-pound goal. 

Training frequently at the Los Alamos Middle School track, the couple found support from the local community. The lacrosse team timed their practice runs, while the Aquatic Center’s pool managers encouraged them to practice for the water obstacle known as the “Wife Pond”. By the time they departed for Finland, Andy and Devon were not just fit but brimming with confidence.

The competition in Sonkajärvi was fierce, featuring three thrilling events: the sprin’t, team, and long course. Representing the United States, the Lees competed in the sprint and long course categories. July 5, they tackled the sprint event, a 100-meter dash with a challenging “Wife Pond”, which is more than 1 meter deep and 15 meters long.

Despite Devon slipping off Andy’s back in the pond, Andy recovered with a burst of speed to chase down and overtake the other runner, which won them their preliminary heat and secured a spot in the finals.

In the finals, they faced off against formidable teams from Australia, Lithuania and Estonia. Although Devon fell again in the water, costing them the bronze medal, they finished with a time of 44.65 seconds, showcasing their resilience and determination.

The excitement continued July 6 with the team and long course events. Andy teamed up with Kalob Bowman, Tyler McAllister and Kinda McAllister from Arizona to form “Team USA – The Army of Helaman”. They made history as the first American team to compete and place, clinching the bronze medal with a time of 2:30.01, behind only the Australian and Finnish teams.

In the senior division of the long course event, Andy and Devon shone brightly once more. Devons goal was to stay on Andy’s back throughout the race, and she did just that! They finished in a remarkable 1:33.68, just three seconds shy of third place.

“We’re thrilled with our performance this year,” Andy beamed. “The Wife-Carrying event is about spreading joy and having fun. We’re happy to have done so well and met so many wonderful competitors who have become friends.”

Devon echoed her husband’s enthusiasm, adding, “For some, like me, this event is not only a test of athletic ability but a challenge of fears – namely, dropping or drowning the wife. We met our goals and crushed our time from last year.”

Indeed, the Lees improved dramatically from their 2023 finish of 2:44, attributing their success to their weight loss and rigorous training. Despite neither being natural athletes and both being in their late 40s, they demonstrated that dedication and teamwork can overcome any obstacle.

Having moved to Los Alamos in 2020 with their children (two of whom are part of the Los Alamos High School band and swim team), Andy and Devon celebrated their silver wedding anniversary this summer. During the next year, you may see them training for future events, whether on local racetracks, training hills for the UK race, or mud puddles for the Australian race. Join us in cheering them on to future success!

Andy and Devon Lee of Los Alamos prepare to compete at the 2024 Wife Carrying World Championships earlier this month in Sonkajärvi, Finland. Photo by Kindra McAllister