Keg-tossing (or keg toss or weight over bar) is a traditional strength sport that involves the heaving of a standard half-barrel beer keg or a similar implement. The keg must be completely emptied before it should be tossed for better stability and to avoid injuries. The basic technique involves swinging the keg in a pendulum like manner and releasing when it is at its apex.

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 of different weights and sizes 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.

In 1980 World's Strongest Man, 'weight over bar' event was introduced where the competitors had to throw a 25.5 kg (56 lb) weight derived from Highland games using only 1 arm for max height (a heavy block of iron was attached to a fixed small ring which itself was attached to a freely moving large ring, used to grip the weight. The weight was derived from the imperial unit Stone, where a weight of 4 stones (1 stone = 14 lb) was used as a counterbalance for weight measurements when buying or selling in the ancient Scottish markets). ^[1] In 1992 World's Strongest Man, the competitors had to throw a 30 kg (66 lb) Thor's hammer but this time using both arms for max height. In 1993 World's Strongest Man, the competitors had to throw a 20 kg (44 lb) concrete block over a contraption which was called the Trojan wall again for a max height. In 2010 World's Strongest Man, the competitors had to throw 8 beer kegs of increasing weights ranging from 17-24 kg over a 4 meter bar in the fastest time. At the 2017 Arnold Strongman Classic, the competitors had to throw very heavy sandbags over a 15 ft bar for max weight. In all the variations, the weights were thrown overhead, to the rear of the thrower, and over the top of the bar to prove clearance.

World Records

Max height/ Max weight

• Highland games one arm weight over bar – 25.5 kg (56 lb) over 6.17 m (20 ft 3 in) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (2022) ^[2]
• David Webster memorial one arm sandbag over bar – 25.5 kg (56 lb) over 5.79 m (19 ft 0 in) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (2024) ^[3]
• Keg toss – 12.5 kg (28 lb) over 8.54 m (28 ft 0 in) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (2014) ^[4]
• Keg toss – 15 kg (33 lb) over 7.76 m (25 ft 51⁄2 in) by Tom Stoltman , Mitchell Hooper , Wesley Derwinsky (2024)
• Keg toss – 25 kg (55 lb) over 6.00 m (19 ft 8 in) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (2012) ^[5]
• Sandbag over bar – 45.4 kg (100 lb) over 4.57 m (15 ft 0 in) by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (2017) ^[6]

Speed

• Keg toss – 8 kegs (18–25 kg) over 4.8 m (15 ft 9 in) bar in 15.71 sec by Žydrūnas Savickas (2013)
• Keg toss – 8 kegs (18–25 kg) over 4.9 m (16 ft 1 in) bar in 16.35 sec by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (2014) ^[7]
• Keg toss – 8 kegs (18–24 kg) over 5.2 m (17 ft 1 in) bar in 21.04 sec by Krzysztof Radzikowski (2013) ^[8]
• Keg toss – 10 kegs (18–25 kg) over 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in) bar in 21.02 sec by Aivars Šmaukstelis (2023) ^[9]

Note: During Savickas's performance, the rule was to start while the athletes were already touching the first keg. During Björnsson, Radzikowski, and Šmaukstelis's performances the starting signal was given when the athletes had to stand back in a line, having had to run forward a few feet in order to grab the first keg.

References

https://www.foxsports.com/ohio/video/1270467651836