Doubts have been raised over whether ‘Hardest Geezer’ Russ Cook can really claim to be the first person to ever walk the entire length of Africa.
Cook, 27, celebrated Sunday as he completed his 16,100-mile run from Cape Agulhas in South Africa to Ras Angela, Tunisia, in 352 days.
He crossed 16 countries while running the equivalent of 385 marathons, claiming to be the first person to ever run the entire African continent, surviving bandits with machetes, food poisoning and even visa problems.
But his claim is being questioned by a small international sports organization.
The World Runners Association (WRA), made up of just seven members, claimed that one of its founders actually deserved the title over Cook.
Cook, 27, (pictured) celebrated today as he completed his 16,100 miles from Cape Agulhas in South Africa to Ras Angela, Tunisia, in 352 days
Cook drinks a strawberry daiquiri while sitting on a throne after completing his final race
He crossed 16 countries while running the equivalent of 385 marathons a day, claiming to be the first person to ever run the entire African continent
The World Runners Association (WRA), made up of just seven members, claimed that one of its founders, Jesper Olsen (pictured), deserved the title over Cook.
The group said Danish athlete Jesper Olsen achieved the feat in 2010, when he ran 12,000 kilometers from Taba in Egypt to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa in 434 days as part of an ultramarathon challenge that saw him run around the world .
Cook said his journey, which ran from the southernmost to the northernmost point of Africa, was 2,000 miles (3,300 kilometers) longer than Olsen’s, but the group was confident that Olsen was the first person to accomplish the feat.
The WRA said that since the length of Africa ‘as the crow flies is calculated at 8,000 km (4,971 mi), it does not matter that Cook’s distance was longer.
President Phil Essam said the Telegraph: ‘The WRA recognizes Mr Jesper Kenn Olsen from Denmark as the first person to walk the entire route of Africa.
‘The World Runners Association therefore disputes British national Russ Cook’s claim that he is the first person to run the entire length of Africa.’
Olsen himself tried to undermine Cook’s efforts, telling the newspaper that other runners had completed similar distances without taking breaks as Cook.
‘(French runner) Serge Girard crossed five continents during his world run and completed his run without a single day off for the entire run.
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“To compare this to Russ Cook’s run across Africa, where there were multiple days off – I think, with all due respect – is in itself a bit far-fetched, to compare a half marathon to a full marathon.
‘So for me it’s not about drawing attention to myself. But to put things on the right scale, so that recreational runners can get an idea of where the maximum limits are in ultrarunning. And hopefully gain inspiration.’
Cook, from Worthing, West Sussex, was hugged by loved ones and supporters as he crossed the finish line at Tunisia’s northernmost point today.
He put his hands on his head in disbelief and flexed his muscles at the top of a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by reporters and photographers.
After crossing the finish line in a bucket hat and a retro England shirt, Cook walked to the sea and cooled off with a dip. ‘I’m a little tired. I’m a little tired,” he admitted as he stood topless in the water.
One man joked ‘let’s get you a strawberry daiquiri’, Cook replied ‘yeah let’s fuck off’.
The runner often joked about getting the frozen cocktail as a reward for his epic effort. Speaking to Sky News at the finish, the endurance athlete said: ‘I’m quite tired.’
Delighted fans chanted “Geezer, Geezer, Geezer,” with one telling reporters, “I just wanted to be part of it.” It’s a piece of history’.
He had originally hoped to complete the mega distance in 240 days, but several obstacles delayed his finish by about 100 days
Russ Cook, 27 from Worthing, West Sussex, aka ‘Worthing’s Hardest Geezer’, started the challenge 351 days ago
Cook claimed his support vehicle was ambushed by “desperate guys with guns” and that the gunmen stole his team’s cameras, cellphones and some passports.
After starting the final drive from a petrol station in Ghezala, Tunisia, at 10am today, he told Sky News: ‘One more day, one last push to get this thing done.’
He said he had “a few tears” this morning, adding: “352 days on the road is a long time without seeing family, my girlfriend. My body is in a lot of pain, but I only have one day and I’m not going to complain. Tonight we’re going to eat strawberry daiquiris on the beach, it’s going to be unreal.’
Cook has raised £685,000 for charity so far, with more than £250,000 donated in the past seven days thanks to his loyal following.
The athlete, who calls himself a former ‘fat kid’ with alcohol and gambling problems, was introduced to long-distance running at the age of 21 when he took part in the half marathon.
He originally hoped to complete the mega-distance in 240 days, but several obstacles delayed his finish by about 100 days.