After about 208,333 touches of the football, Dan Magness became a Guinness world record holder today.But that was not enough for the 25-year-old from Milton Keynes. He kept the ball in the air with his feet, thighs, chest and head until this afternoon to complete a 24-hour marathon of kick-ups in Central London.
The previous world record, held by the Brazilian Martinho Eduardo Orige, was smashed by over four hours according to clipboard-wielding officials from Guinness World Records.
The self-styled “ginger freestyler” said he had spent months on strength and stamina training. “A millisecond lapse in concentration – all the training [would] count for nothing,” he said.
Magness’s record breaking keepy-up effort took place inside a Perspex box in Covent Garden, reminiscent of the one suspended above the Thames by David Blaine, the attention-seeking magician. This time Londoners did not gather to pelt the world record challenger with eggs.
Gareth Brocklebank, Magness’s manager denied speculation that his star had taken a break when no one was looking in the early hours of this morning. “He has followed the Guinness guidelines to a tee,” he said. “He is as strong as an ox.”
