{{Short description|Running event}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}} thumb|Three-legged race [[File:The Royal Navy during the Second World War A17268.jpg|thumb|The Royal Navy during World War II]]
A '''three-legged race''' is an informal running event involving pairs of participants running with the left leg of one runner strapped to the right leg of another runner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/three-legged-race|title=Three-legged race|website=Cambridge Dictionary|language=en|access-date=2018-08-01}}</ref> The objective is for the partners to beat the other contestant pairs to the finish line.
Three-legged races are traditionally staged in schools as a sports day activity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.topendsports.com/sport/unusual/three-legged-races.htm|first=Robert|last=Wood|title=Three-Legged Races.|publisher=Topend Sports Website|date=September 2018|access-date=14 March 2026}}</ref>
== Records == The longest distance ever run three-legged in 24 hours is 117.1km (72.7 miles) and was achieved by Gary Shaughnessy (Tadley, England) and Andy Tucker (Tadley, England), at Silchester on 9/10 October 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Farthest distance run three legged in 24 hours (male) |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-distance-run-three-legged-in-24-hours |access-date=2023-12-19}}</ref> Gary Shaughnessy and Andy Tucker also broke the 12 hour record on the same day.
The world record for the most pairs in a three-legged race is 768, set by Caritas of Hong Kong in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Largest three legged race |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-three-legged-race-most-pairs-(single-venue) |website=Guinness World Records}}</ref> An August 2014 attempt in Canberra organised by National Rugby League team Canberra Raiders failed; only 543 pairs competed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-12/three-legged-race-world-record-attempt-in-canberra/5665678|title=Three-legged race world record attempt fails in Canberra|date=2014-08-12|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2018-08-01}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.recordholders.org/en/list/three-legged-running.html World Records for Three-Legged Running] * https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-distance-run-three-legged-in-24-hours *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100423081541/http://community.guinnessworldrecords.com/_Largest-Three-legged-Race-Most-Pairs/blog/179774/7691.html Largest Three-legged Race (Most Pairs)]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Three-Legged Race}} Category:Children's games Category:Games of physical skill Category:Novelty running
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