[ad_1]
Written by Parkin Amararaj
00:23 08 April 2024, 09:56 08 April 2024 Updated
Questions have arisen as to whether Russ Cooke, the “Hardest Geezer”, can truly claim to be the first person to drive across Africa.
Cook, 27, celebrated on Sunday after completing the 10,100-mile run from Cape Agulhas in South Africa to Las Angelas in Tunisia in 352 days.
He traversed 16 countries, the equivalent of 385 marathons, and overcame machete-wielding bandits, food poisoning, and even visa problems to claim to be the first person in history to complete the continent of Africa.
But his claims have been questioned by a small international sports body.
The World Runners Association (WRA), which has just seven members, has argued that one of its founders actually deserves a better title than Mr Cook.
According to the organization, Danish athlete Jesper Olsen accomplished the feat in 2010 by running 11,949 miles from Taba, Egypt to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa in 434 days as part of his globe-trotting ultramarathon challenge. It is said that he did.
Cook said his journey from the southernmost tip of Africa to the northernmost tip was 3,113 miles longer than Olsen’s, but the group was adamant that Olsen was the first person to accomplish the feat.
WRA said Africa’s length is calculated to be 8,000km [4,971 miles] It doesn’t matter that Cook’s distance was long, “as the crow flies.”
President Phil Essam told the Telegraph: “The WRA recognizes Denmark’s Jesper Ken Olsen as the first person to run across Africa.”
“The World Runners’ Association therefore disputes the claim of Briton Russ Cooke to be the first person to run on the African continent.”
Olsen himself tried to undermine Cook’s efforts, telling the paper that other runners had completed similar distances without taking breaks.
‘[French runner] Serge Girard completed the World Run across five continents without taking a single day off.
“Comparing this to Russ Cooke’s Africa run, which had a few days off, and – with all due respect – comparing a half marathon to a full marathon is a bit of a stretch.
“So, for me, it’s not about drawing attention to myself. But it’s about putting things on the right scale so that recreational runners can understand where the limits of ultra running are. And hopefully Get inspired.”
Cook, from Worthing, West Sussex, was hugged by loved ones and supporters as he crossed the finish line in the northernmost tip of Tunisia today.
Surrounded by reporters and photographers, he stood on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, his hands on his head and his muscles flexing in disbelief.
After crossing the finish line wearing a bucket hat and retro England shirt, Cook walked to the sea to cool off with a dip. “I’m a little tired. I’m a little tired,” he admitted while standing topless in the water.
One man joked, “Let’s get him a strawberry daiquiri,” to which Mr. Cook replied, “Yeah, no more.”
This runner often jokes about eating frozen cocktails as a reward for his epic efforts. Speaking to Sky News at the finish line, the endurance athlete said he was “pretty tired”.
Delighted fans chanted “Geezer, Geezer, Geezer,” and one fan told reporters, “I just wanted to be a part of it.” It’s part of history. ”
“One more day, one last push to get this job done,” he told Sky News after starting his final run of the day from a gas station in Gezara, Tunisia, at 10am.
“I cried a little bit,” he said this morning, adding, “352 days of expedition is a long period of time where I won’t be able to see my family or girlfriend.” My body hurts so much, but I only have one more day. I’m not going to complain. I’m going to eat a strawberry daiquiri on the beach tonight, it’s going to be surreal. ”
Mr Cook has so far raised £685,000 for the charity, with more than £250,000 donated in the past seven days thanks to the support of his loyal supporters.
The athlete, a self-described former “fat kid” with alcohol and gambling problems, discovered long-distance running when he took part in a half marathon at the age of 21.
He originally hoped to complete this mega-distance in 240 days, but various obstacles delayed his completion by about 100 days.
[ad_2]
Source link
