by The Hardest Geezer’s claim to be the first person to run the length of Africa has been disputed.
Russ Cook, from West Sussex, completed his grueling challenge on Sunday after crossing the finish line at the northernmost point in Tunisia – 352 days and more than 16,000km after leaving the southern tip of the South Africa.
The 27-year-old, who documented his ordeal on TikTok and raised over £700,000 for charity, faced a number of scares that threatened his mission, including armed robbery, visa complications and food poisoning.
Cook believes he is the first person to run the entire length of Africa – but that is now being disputed by the World Runners Association, a seven-member group of individuals who have successfully circumnavigated the World on foot.
The WRA claims that one of its members, a Danish man called Jesper Olsen, became the first person to run across Africa in 2010 when he traveled from Taba in Egypt to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa in 434 days.
The group say Olsen, who was 37 at the time, ran the length of Africa during a “world run” challenge in which he crossed many other continents and they are confident his record still stands.
Meanwhile, a British man named Nicholas Bourne has also come forward with his claim of holding the African distance record.
Bourne was the first person to run from Cape Town to Cairo in 1998 – covering more than 10,000km through deserts and war zones – and was certified by the Guinness Book of Records in 2000.
Speaking to the IndependentBourne said friends urged him to speak up after hearing Cook’s claim, but said he had “no interest” in detracting from the 27-year-old’s achievement.
Bourne said that disputes often arose over actual race records because there was no governing body to oversee and set criteria for long-distance challenges, but he said: “My hat’s off to Russ, It’s a great effort.”
‘Toughest Geezer’ did not take the most direct route through Africa – instead traveling north following the west coast of the continent.
Cook’s run was 3,400km longer than Olsen’s but the WRA argued it was not the same.
The WRA claims it contacted Cook warning him that Olsen and two other members, Serge Girard of France and Tony Mangan of Ireland, had previously completed the challenge.
“He cannot say that he is the first person to run it along Africa,” said Marie Leautey, a member of the WRA, who completed her circumnavigation on foot in 2022. denied.
“I can assume that maybe he didn’t know about it or he didn’t do the research or he really thought he was the first, for some reason.
“We contacted him [Mr Cook] on social media, on Instagram, on social media, before. We have tried and now we have seen the press in the UK, saying it was the first.
“We should get the facts right. We have no problem with him claiming to be the first to run from the south [point] to the northernmost.
“But when we read that he was the first man to run across the whole of Africa it’s not true, in terms of facts.”
Meanwhile, Olsen gently poked fun at Cook for taking “some vacation days” during his challenge.
Speaking to the telegraphhe said: “Serge Girard crossed five continents in his world run and finished his run without a single day off during the entire run.
“To compare this to Russ Cook’s trip through Africa, where there were several days off – I think, with all due respect – is a bit of a stretch in itself, to compare a half marathon to a full marathon.
“So for me it’s not about focusing on myself. But to put things in the right scale so that recreational runners can get an idea of where the maximum limits are in ultra running. And I hope they will be inspired.”
With the support of millions of supporters on social media, Hardest Geezer arrived in Ras Angela, the northernmost point in Tunisia and was greeted and cheered by those who flew out to meet him.
Across the venture, called Project Africa, Cook has raised more than £700,000 for two charities, the Running Charity and Sandblast, the latter of which is a UK-registered charity that raises awareness of the indigenous people of Sahara in the west of the Sahara.
Cook, who turned to ultra-running after struggling with mental health, gambling and drinking, told X that the challenge was not only “the hardest of my life” but “a huge honour”.
“We met incredible people in every country we were in who welcomed us with love and kindness. The human spirit is a beautiful thing,” he wrote.
“We are very grateful for these experiences and would certainly encourage anyone out there to pursue that adventure, whatever it may be for you. Thank you to the people of Africa for making this trip so wonderful.”
WRA president Phil Essam said: “The WRA recognizes Mr Jesper Kenn Olsen from Denmark as the first person to run the entire length of Africa.
“Therefore the World Runners’ Association opposes the claim of the British national, Mr. Russ Cook, to be the first person to run the length of Africa.”
Includes reporting from PA
