Tonye Solomon, a football freestyler hailing from Bayelsa, Nigeria, has recently made history by achieving a new Guinness World Record. He accomplished the remarkable feat of climbing 150 steps on a ladder while skillfully balancing a football on his head.
Tonye’s incredible journey towards this record began when he embarked on a challenging 60-kilometer (37-mile) walk from Amassoma to Yenagoa in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, all while balancing a football on his head. Initially met with skepticism from many of his fellow countrymen, Tonye was determined to prove the authenticity of his remarkable achievement.
To silence the doubters, Tonye decided to take on a new challenge and set a Guinness World Record for the most steps climbed on a ladder while balancing a football on his head. He dedicated two months of rigorous training, utilising every bit of his free time to perfect his skills until he was confident of success.
Last month, Tonye achieved this astonishing feat by scaling a daunting ladder with 150 steps, leading to the top of a towering 250-foot (76-meter) radio mast. Throughout the ascent, he maintained precise control of the football perched on his head, showcasing his exceptional balance and athleticism.
Tonye’s motivation for setting this record extended beyond personal achievement; he aimed to inspire others to pursue greatness. His dedication and determination served as a testament to the potential of individuals who dare to dream big and work tirelessly towards their goals.
During his record-setting attempt, Tonye displayed remarkable composure, taking just 12 and a half minutes to complete the challenging climb. Spectators were all left in awe by his remarkable performance.
Tonye Solomon is part of the Chukwuebuka Freestyle Academy, overseen by Chukwuebuka Ezugha. This academy has become known for nurturing and producing exceptional talents in the field of freestyle football, including luminaries such as Kid Eche, Vincent Okezie, Victor Richard Kipo, and Confidence Kipo. According to the Guinness World Record website, some of the titles they have achieved include:
- Fastest time to 1000 football touches while balancing a ball on the head – 7 min 46 sec, by Kid Eche
- Most consecutive football touches in one minute while balancing a football on the head – 133, by Kid Eche
- Most knee transfers of a football spun on the finger in one minute – 31, by Confidence Kipo
- Most consecutive passes of a football between the head and soles (team of two) – 252, by Chukwuebuka Ezugha and Victor Richard Kipo
- Most football ‘around the world’ tricks with arms linked (team of two) – 71, by Victor Richard Kipo and Vincent Okezie
- Most transfers of footballs spun on the finger in 30 seconds (team of two) – 9, by Victor Richard Kipo and Vincent Okezie
- Most consecutive passes of a football between the head and soles while balancing on the back of a person – 129, achieved by Chukwuebuka Ezugha, Victor Richard Kipo and Vincent Okezie