Claims to travel the length of Africa have been questioned

Russ Cook aka Hard Geyser’s whole Africa For claiming to be the first person to travel as far on foot Conflict has stood up

Mr Cook, from West Sussex, completed his grueling challenge on Sunday, reaching the northernmost point of Tunisia following 352 days and more than 16,000 kilometres, starting from the southern tip of South Africa.

The 27-year-old, who documented his harrowing journey on TikTok and raised more than £700,000 for charity, has faced numerous threats, including armed robbery, visa complications and food poisoning.

Mr Cook believes he is the first person to walk the length of Africa but has now been disputed by the World Runners’ Association (WRA), a seven-member group of people who have achieved the feat. Along with walking around the earth.

The WRA claims that one of its members, Danish national Jesper Olsen, became the first person to travel the length of Africa in 2010 when he walked from Taba in Egypt to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa in 434 days. What was the trip?

The group says Olsen, now 37, has traveled the length of Africa during the ‘World Run’ challenge, crossing several other continents. He firmly believes that his record still stands.

Meanwhile, a British man named Nicholas Bourne has also come forward with the claim of holding the record for traveling the length of Africa.

Bourne became the first person to run from Cape Town to Cairo in 1998 – a distance of more than 10,000 kilometers through deserts and war zones, and was confirmed by Guinness World Records in 2000.

Speaking to The Independent, Mr Bourne said friends had urged him to speak out following hearing Mr Cook’s claims, but said he had no ‘interest’ in the 27-year-old’s success.

Mr Bourne said disputes often arose over the more complex records because there was no governing body to oversee and set standards for long-distance challenges, but said: ‘My regards to Russia, it’s an excellent effort. .’

Geyser did not take the most direct route through Africa—instead traveling north along the west coast of the continent.

Mr Cook’s journey was 3,400km longer than Mr Olsen’s route but the WRA insists that does not matter.

The WRA claimed to have contacted Mr Cook and warned him that Mr Olsen and two other members, Serge Gerard from France and Tony Mangan from Ireland, had already completed the challenge.

‘He can’t say he’s the first person to walk the length of Africa,’ says WRA member Mary Lewty, who will circumnavigate the globe in 2022.

“We really congratulate Russia. We don’t want Jasper’s success to be denied.

‘I can admit that maybe they didn’t know regarding it or they didn’t do the research or they really thought they were the first person for some reason.

‘We had previously contacted him (Mr Cook) on social media and Instagram. We have tried and now we see the press in Britain saying that he was the first.

‘We must get the facts right. We have no problem with that being the southernmost [مقام] is the first person to run to the northernmost point from

‘But when we read that he was the first person to walk across Africa, it is not factually true.’

Meanwhile, Mr Olsen mocked Mr Cook for taking ‘several days off’ during the challenge.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, he said: ‘Serge Gerrard crossed five continents in his world race and completed the race without taking a day off during the entire race.’

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“Comparing it to Russ Cook’s race in Africa where he had several days off, I think comparing a half marathon to a full marathon is a bit of a stretch in itself,” he said.

‘So for me it’s not regarding drawing attention to myself but putting things on the right scale so that runners can understand where the maximum limits are in ultrarunning. And hopefully that will inspire.’

With the support of millions of followers on social media, Hearst Geyser arrived in Ras Angela, the northernmost point of Tunisia, and was greeted by people who came to meet him.

Under the name of Project Africa, Mr Cook has raised more than £700,000 for two charities, The Running Charity and Sandblast, the latter a UK-registered charity which works with indigenous peoples in Western Sahara. Raising awareness regarding the Saharawi people.

Cook, who turned to ultrarunning following struggling with mental health, gambling and alcoholism, said on Twitter/X that it was ‘undoubtedly the hardest challenge of my life’ but a ‘huge honour’.

“We have met incredible people in each country who have welcomed us with love and kindness,” he wrote. Human emotion is a beautiful thing.

‘I am grateful for these experiences and will encourage everyone to pursue their own adventures, whatever they may be. Thank you to the people of Africa for being an incredible part of this journey.’

WRA President Phil Essam said: ‘The WRA recognizes Denmark’s Jasper Ken Olsen as the first person to travel across Africa.

‘The World Runners Association therefore disputes British national Russ Cook’s claim to be the first person to walk across Africa.’

This news also includes reporting from PA.