Osman Gurcu, 43, Turkish man, sets new Guinness World Record for longest axe throw, at 183 feet, 8.72 inches. The previous record was held by American Jesse Rood at 143 feet. It is even longer than an Olympic swimming pool, which is 164 feet. This is Gurcu’s eighth Guinness World Records title.
A Dream Realized
A father of two, Osman by nature always had an interest in setting records. He keeps checking the website and social media of Guinness World Records for new challenges to undertake the day itself. What he has in mind is to be featured in the annual page of the publication. “It was such a wonderful feeling to have broken the record because the distance is so far, and one has to be able to go far.”. At the same time, the axe has to get stuck in the target board. I hit it many times, but it didn’t get stuck and I never gave up,” he shares.
Overcoming Obstacles
Osman’s willpower, however, did not make it easy for him to train. As a private security guard, finding time to train was a problem, and the cold and wet weather was another challenge. Besides, while he was trying to break the record, someone else broke the previous mark, and Osman had to throw farther. However, Osman attributes his success to the fact that he has been throwing since childhood.
Not one to rest on one laurel, Osman has already made plans for future records. He wants to beat the bullseye record for shooting a red dot at the center of a dartboard from the farthest distance. Besides, he has plans for continued attempts for basketball shooting records and other challenging feats. Looking back on his journey, he recalled that “being a record holder makes me very happy,” as he inspires others with his resolve.