Guinness World Records is poised to acknowledge the remarkable achievement of a British athlete dubbed the “Hardest Geezer” for his extraordinary journey across Africa. Despite some controversy surrounding rival claims to the title, Russ Cook’s epic feat of endurance is set to be officially recognized.
Russ Cook, hailing from Worthing in West Sussex, completed his monumental run on Sunday after traversing the entire length of Africa, covering a staggering distance of 10,100 miles (16,300km) over 352 days. His journey was fraught with challenges, including encounters with machete-wielding villagers, armed robbers, and debilitating bouts of food poisoning.
Upon completing his expedition, the 27-year-old promptly declared himself as “the first person ever to run the entire length of Africa” in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). However, his assertion sparked a dispute among ultra-marathon runners who accused him of disregarding the achievements of others who had completed similar journeys in the past.
Despite the controversy, Guinness World Records has confirmed its intention to bestow a record upon Mr. Cook for his remarkable feat. In a statement, the organization congratulated him on his accomplishment, highlighting the grueling nature of his journey, which spanned 16 countries and equated to the equivalent of 385 marathons between South Africa and Tunisia. Guinness World Records expressed eagerness to receive evidence from Mr. Cook to support his claim for the title of “Fastest crossing of Africa on foot (male).”
The decision comes amidst conflicting claims from the World Runners Association (WRA), a group of seven ultra-runners, who assert that Danish athlete Jesper Olsen was the first man to run Africa in 2010. Mr. Olsen completed a route of 7,949 miles from Taba in Egypt to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa over 434 days, which is 2,113 miles shorter than Mr. Cook’s route.
Responding to the dispute, Mr. Cook’s fellow athlete, Jesper Olsen, gently criticized Mr. Cook for taking days off during his challenge, drawing comparisons to the remarkable feat of another WRA member, Serge Girard from France, who crossed five continents “without one single day off.”
Guinness World Records clarified that there is no official record for the first person to run the length of Africa due to a lack of recognized standards for the route, distance, or time taken. Instead, the organization monitors records for the fastest crossing of Africa on foot and the fastest journey from Cape Town to Cairo on foot.
Despite the controversy, Mr. Cook remains humble and appreciative of his fellow athletes’ achievements. He paid tribute to them, acknowledging the enormity of their challenges and expressing respect for their endeavors.
The Telegraph reached out to Mr. Cook for comment, but he has yet to respond. However, his monumental journey has garnered widespread attention and support, with hundreds of fans joining him on his final run. The endeavor also raised an impressive £775,000 for charity.
As Mr. Cook takes a well-deserved rest after his arduous journey, he hinted at the possibility of embarking on new challenges in the future. His indomitable spirit and dedication to pushing boundaries serve as an inspiration to all aspiring adventurers and athletes alike.
