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German men finger wrestle in intense, centuries-old competition: In photos

Finger wrestling is a competitive sport known as “Fingerhakeln” — a Bavarian and Austrian pastime that dates back hundreds of years.

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May 13, 2024 at 6:51 a.m. EDT
A man dressed in traditional clothes tries to pull his opponent over the table at the German championships in Fingerhakeln, or finger wrestling, in Bernbeuren on Sunday. (Matthias Schrader/AP)
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More than 150 German men gathered inside a beer tent over the weekend with a shared goal: to prove how strong their fingers are.

Finger wrestling is a competitive sport known as “Fingerhakeln” — a Bavarian and Austrian pastime that is said to date to the 14th century.

During the competition, which was held in Bernbeuren on Sunday, participants sat facing each other across a table. Each hooks one finger (usually the middle digit) through opposite sides of a leather loop. Then, they pull — as hard as they can.