Gbenga Ezekiel, a senior secondary school student from Ijapo High School in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, has entered his record for the most skips in one minute on one leg in the Guinness Book of World Records.
In his effort, Ezekiel recorded 265 skips, breaking Rasel Islam of Bangladesh’s previous record of 262 skips.
About four months after the 16-year-old’s first efforts at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure, it was established as a record.
The feat was communicated to the national coach of the Nigeria Rope Skipping Federation, Chubuisi Ukandu, and has also been updated on the Guinness World Records website.
“The most skips in one minute on one leg is 265 and was achieved by Gbenga Ezekiel (Nigeria), in Akure, Nigeria, on 31 October 2022. The attempt took place at the Akure stadium,” Guinness World Records confirmed on their website.
“I am very happy that my record has been ratified. I feel so special to be a Guinness World Record holder after taking inspiration from videos I have seen on the internet.
“I thank my coach for his efforts since he introduced me and other students to rope skipping. I am proud of my achievement and I wish to do more in the future,” Ezekiel told our correspondent.
Ezekiel becomes the first athlete from Ondo State as well as the first Nigerian and African rope skipper to achieve a Guinness World Records title.