South African trail runners Christiaan Greyling and AJ Calitz have broken the Guinness World Record for the greatest vertical distance on foot, on Table Mountain’s Platteklip Gorge.
The duo completed a distance of 19,398 metres, which is equivalent to 14 ascents and descents, in a record-breaking time of 19 hours 52 minutes, and 10 seconds.
The previous record was held by a team in Ireland, with a distance of 18,086 metres, which is equivalent to 13 ascents and descents.
“We are absolutely delighted and overjoyed to have broken the world record for the most vertical ascent and descent, on a route that is well known to us, Platteklip Gorge on Table Mountain, one of the New7Wonders of Nature,”
“It was one of the toughest days of my life with the added pressure of doing it in 20 hours because of curfew but my K-Way partner, AJ, was strong and motivated me to triumph in what was an achievement of two very dedicated teammates.” said Greyling.
Greyling has won the Ultra Trail Cape Town 100, Skyrun 100, Otter trail 42. He also ranks in the top four men in the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) general classification in South Africa and 1st in the XL classification-90-100km with 5000m ascent.
Calitz, is the record holder for Fish River Canyon 100km, champion of 2016 SA Ultra Trail and four-time Red Bull Lionheart winner.