Posted on 03/20/2011 8:43:33 AM PDT by BenLurkin
When the L.A. Marathon takes place Sunday, one of the runners will attempt to set the record for the heaviest person ever to complete a marathon.
Kelly Gneiting of Fort Defiance, Arizona, weighs about 400 pounds.
“I am a sumo wrestler and I’ve represented the United States for the last seven years at the World Sumo Championships or World Games,” he said at a news conference Saturday at Dodger Stadium.
“I don’t think anyone has used the word `marathon’ and `sumo’ in the same sentence,” he said. “I like the aspect of the two opposite-spectrum sports — sumo and marathon running — coming together, and I love a challenge.”
“If anyone would sponsor me, I’d love to swim the English Channel at 400 pounds. I love the thought of 400 pounds and showcasing what a 400-pound person can do. A lot of America is overweight. Just because you are overweight, you don’t need to let that stop you from accomplishing anything. A little piece of that will be shown tomorrow when I complete the marathon.”
Gneiting, who weighed in during the news conference at 400.8 pounds, will try to set a Guinness World Record for the heaviest person to ever complete a marathon — the current record is 275 pounds.
Gneiting completed the 2008 marathon in 11 hours, 52 minutes, 11 seconds, but was not credited with the record because he did not follow the Guinness requirements that he be weighed immediately before and after the race, and that the entire race be filmed.
Gneiting said he is confident he can finish the race because he finished the 2008 Los Angeles race.
He said that this time he trained six days a week instead of four.
(Excerpt) Read more at losangeles.cbslocal.com ...
I can’t imagine the stress on his knees from such an effort.
Oh thank god i though it was an earth quake
Knees can be replaced. He has bigger worries than that.
I find it interesting that the current record is “only” 275 pounds. I would have thought an athletic guy of 6’ 6” around 280 to 300 pounds would have completed a marathon.
The runners will be having a great time this morning. It is quite cold and DUMPING rain here in Los Angeles.
“400 Pound Sumo Wrestler Attempts To Set World Record In LA Marathon “
I thought it was about how many runners he could eat.
Leads me to believe that many probably have, but didn’t follow the Guinness requirements of having the whole race filmed.
how do you say “hold my beer and watch this...” in Japanese?
Perhaps he’s committing “cardiac seppuku” on live TV???
He’ll provide good work for the highway department after he finishes.
I wish him luck but that has to be a big time strain on his heart. Of course with that very slow time he’s probably walking it more than running it, but nevertheless, it’s still a major strain on his whole body.
“with that very slow time he’s probably walking it more than running it”
Anyone in decent shape can walk 4 mph. 3 mph is less challenging and 2 mph is really dawdling. He’s essentially going to cover each mile in about 25 minutes. So this might strain his heart, but it shouldn’t put that much stress on his knees compared to normal walking around.
400 lb. Sumo wrestler? They have a lightweight division?
It has to be uncomfortable to carry that much weight around all day. I gained 30 pounds after having back surgery and I definitely felt the difference. I hope this guy decides to lose weight before his health starts to deteriorate. There’s a reason we don’t see many 400 pound senior citizens.
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