Lifting stone

Lifting stones are heavy natural stones which people are challenged to lift, proving their strength. They are common throughout Northern Europe, particularly Iceland (where they are referred to as steintökin), Scotland, Ireland, Basque Country in northern Spain, Faroe Islands, Wales, north west England centred on Cumbria, Switzerland, southern Germany centred around Bavaria, Austria, Scandinavia, Greece and also in the United States and parts of Asia such as Japan. Recently, lifting stones have been incorporated into the World's Strongest Man and other similar strongman competitions, using various cast, found, or established challenge stones such as the Húsafell Stone, Dinnie Stones, Inver Stones and Odd Haugen Tombstone. There are also modernized versions of events derived from ancient contests, in which athletes load heavy spherical stones onto a platform, known as Atlas stones. Famous lifting stones from around the world and the greatest stone lifters in strongman are listed below.