keg-tossing
{{Short description|Sport}}
Keg-tossing (or keg toss) is a traditional strength sport that involves the heaving of a standard half-barrel beer keg or a similar implement.{{Cite web|url=https://barbend.com/keg-toss-like-thor/ |title=How to Keg Toss Like Thor |website=Nick English for www.barbend.com|access-date=2 October 2023}} The basic technique involves swinging the keg in a pendulum like manner and releasing when it is at its apex.{{Cite web|url=https://liftbigeatbig.com/strongman-keg-toss/ |title=Strongman Keg Toss: Technique By World’s Strongest Man Competitor (Weight, Height, World Record) |website=Colm Woulfe for www.liftbigeatbig.com|access-date=12 March 2024}} The keg must be completely emptied before it should be tossed for better stability and to avoid injuries.
Highland games and Strongman competitions
Throughout centuries, several variations of the traditional movement has been carried out during Highland games. In Ireland, empty beer kegs weighing {{convert|12.5|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} or {{convert|15|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} have been typically thrown over upwards and the height of the toss determined the winner. Another variation in Scotland combined techniques of both the discus and hammer throw. Rather than height, this form measured the farthest distance. In both variations, athletes were given three attempts to throw the keg and the winner was determined by measuring the height or the distance tossed.
The keg toss was introduced to Strongman in 1997 European Open competition where competitors had to throw a {{convert|20|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} beer keg for maximum height over a bar.{{Cite web|url=https://strongmanarchives.com/viewEvent.php?id=8 |title=Contests Featuring a Throwing Event > Keg Toss |website=Bill Henderson and Éloi Fournier for www.strongmanarchives.com|access-date=18 August 2024}} In 2006 World's Strongest Man group stages, multiple kegs were introduced, to be tossed over a bar in the fastest time. In 2010 World's Strongest Man the 8 keg standardization occurred where the competitors had to throw 8 beer kegs of increasing weights ranging from {{convert|17-24|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} over a 4-meter bar. The keg toss has been featured over 60 times in Strongman competitions and in all above instances, the kegs were thrown overhead, to the rear of the thrower, and over the top of the bar to prove clearance.{{Cite web |url=https://strongman.org/events/keg-toss/ |title=Keg Toss |author=Benjamin Hedermann |website= www.strongman.org |date=2 February 2018 |access-date=18 December 2024}}
World Records
Max height/ Max weight (Includes keg toss, sandbag and weight over bar variations){{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S6 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 06 - Throwing |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=10 April 2025}}
- Keg toss – {{convert|12.5|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} over 8.54 m (28 ft 0 in) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson {{flagicon|ISL}} (2014){{cite web |title=Hafþór Björnsson breaks World Record for Keg Toss|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=N_ohZcnBwpbnckBD&v=CKcrIbk0EqI&feature=youtu.be|access-date=24 March 2024|work=YouTube.com|date=21 September 2014}}
- Keg toss – {{convert|15|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} over 7.77 m (25 ft 6 in) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson {{flagicon|ISL}} (2024){{Cite web|url=https://strongmanarchives.com/viewContest.php?id=1462|title=2024 Strongest Man on Earth|website=strongmanarchives.com|access-date=17 August 2024}}
- Keg toss – {{convert|25|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} over 6.00 m (19 ft 8 in) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson {{flagicon|ISL}} (2012){{cite web |title=Hafthor Julius Bjornsson - Keg Toss 6 meters with 25kg keg|url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lWY3Tr2XevY?feature=share|access-date=19 September 2022|work=YouTube.com|date=10 June 2012}}
- Sandbag over bar (Max height) – {{convert|25|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} over 5.90 m (19 ft 4 in) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson {{flagicon|ISL}} (2024){{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBcr07ksQs4&t=910s |title=Iceland's Strongest Man 2024 - Day 2 - Timestamp 23:51 |website=YouTube |access-date=10 August 2024}}
- Sandbag over bar (Max weight) – {{convert|45.4|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} over 4.57 m (15 ft 0 in) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson {{flagicon|ISL}} (2017){{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7rVqBu4C5c |title=Arnold Strongman 2017 Rogue Fitness |website=YouTube |access-date=25 March 2022}}
- Highland games one arm weight over bar – {{convert|25.5|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} over 6.17 m (20 ft 3 in) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson {{flagicon|ISL}} (2022){{Cite web |url=https://barbend.com/hafthor-bjornsson-weight-over-bar-world-record-23-feet-3-inches/ |title=Hafthor Björnsson Sets New Weight Over Bar World Record Of 20 Feet, 3 Inches; Teases Competitive Return To Strongman |author=Andrew Gutman for Barbend.com |website= Barbend.com |date=30 October 2022 |access-date=31 October 2022}}
- David Webster one arm sandbag over bar – {{convert|25.5|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} over 5.79 m (19 ft 0 in) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson {{flagicon|ISL}} (2024){{Cite web|url=https://strongmanarchives.com/viewContest.php?id=1465|title=2024 Arnold UK - Strongman|website=strongmanarchives.com|access-date=17 March 2024}}
- Keg toss – 8 kegs (18–25 kg) over 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in) bar in 15.71 sec by Žydrūnas Savickas {{flagicon|LTU}} (2013){{Cite web|url=https://www.strengthresults.com/competitionHome/d1cc-35fd-42e6-acf6-0708809d69c1/1 |title=EUROPE'S STRONGEST MAN 2013 |website=www.strengthresults.com|date=29 June 2013|access-date=2 October 2024}}
- Keg toss – 8 kegs (18–25 kg) over 4.9 m (16 ft 1 in) bar in 16.35 sec by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson {{flagicon|ISL}} (2014){{Cite web|url=http://strongman.org/news/worlds-strongest-man-2014/ |title=World's Strongest Man 2014|website=Strongman.org|date=19 March 2014|access-date=9 May 2018}}
- Keg toss – 8 kegs (18–24 kg) over 5.2 m (17 ft 1 in) bar in 21.04 sec by Krzysztof Radzikowski {{flagicon|POL}} (2013){{Cite web|url=https://www.strongmanarchives.com/viewContest.php?id=648|title=2013 SCL Poland|website=strongmanarchives.com|access-date=21 September 2013}}
- Keg toss – 10 kegs (18–25 kg) over 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in) bar in 21.02 sec by Aivars Šmaukstelis {{flagicon|LAT}} (2023){{cite web |title=Fastest time to toss 10 kegs (male)|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/739013-fastest-time-to-toss-10-kegs-male|access-date=8 July 2023|work=Guinness World Records|date=28 February 2023}}
{{small|Note: During Savickas's performance, rule was to start while athletes were already touching the first keg. During Björnsson, Radzikowski and Šmaukstelis's performances the starting signal was given when athletes had to stand back in a line, having had to run forward a few feet in order to grab the first keg.}}