தொலைக்காட்சியை தொடர்ந்து 72 மணி நேரம் பார்த்து இலங்கை இளைஞர் உலக சாதனை

Canada's full-time record-breaker seeks fame

சுவீடனின் தலைநகரில் இடம்பெற்ற நிகழ்ச்சியில் தொடர்ந்து 72 மணி நேரம் தொலைக்காட்சி நிகழ்ச்சிகளைப் பார்த்து, சுரேஷ் ஜோக்கிம் என்ற இலங்கை இளைஞர் உலக சாதனை படைத்துள்ளார்.
இலங்கையை தாயகமாகக் கொண்ட சுரேஷ், கனடிய ரொரன்டோ நகரில் வசித்து வருகின்றமை குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.
இந்தச் சாதனை தொடர்பில் சுரேஷ் விபரிக்கையில், ""நான் நன்றாக உள்ளேன். இதன்போது 25 முதல் 30 கிண்ணங்கள் கோப்பி அருந்தினேன்'' என்று கூறினார். அவர் இந்தச் சாதனைக்காக கிபர் சதர்லாண்ட் நடித்த உலகப் பிரபல "24' தொலைக்காட்சி தொடரை கண்டுகளித்ததாக தெரிவிக்கப்படுகிறது.
அவரது சாதனை கின்னஸ் உலக சாதனைப் புத்தகத்தில் இடம்பெறவுள்ளது. 2005 ஆம் ஆண்டில் 69 மணித்தியாலங்கள் 48 நிமிடங்கள் தொலைக்காட்சி நிகழ்ச்சிகளை இடைவிடாது பார்த்து நிறைவேற்றப்பட்ட உலக சாதனையை சுரேஷ் முறியடித்துள்ளார்.

Canada's full-time record-breaker seeks fame

Professional record-breaker Suresh Joachim always knew that if he wanted people to listen to him, he'd have to make a name for himself.

Then he discovered the Guinness Book of World Records.

Now a stay-at-home dad and full-time record-breaker, Suresh has broken 53 world records -- including longest karaoke marathon (25 hours, 49 minutes), longest time spent standing on one foot (76 hours, 40 minutes) and longest continuous ironing (55 hours, five minutes). 

He currently holds records in more than 30 categories -- the second most prolific record holder in the entire Guinness Book of World Records. He is Canada's number one record breaker.

Born in Sri Lanka, Suresh grew up surrounded by violence and civil war. He always wanted to do something to help needy children worldwide and now uses the media attention on his record attempts to spread a message of peace.

"In 1991, one of my uncles gave me a 'Guinness Book,'" said the fast-talking Toronto resident, who worked as a chartered account and as a purchasing officer before deciding to focus on record breaking. 

"It was very nice, colourful, with a black cover and silver letters," he told CTV.ca, describing his first the way one might recall a childhood friend.

"All my stars were in there: Madonna, the football players -- you know Madonna, right? Even Michael Jackson was there for most albums sold... I thought 'OK, this is a good book.'"

The first record he tried to break was standing on one foot for the longest amount of time. While he didn't get the record on his first attempt -- someone else had submitted a higher one in the meantime -- he started to realize he might be capable of some amazing feats.

"Everyone has these abilities but they don't try it," said Suresh, who credits his success to his good intentions. "If I want to run in the Olympics I will train and I will do it. Anyone can do what I am doing if they believe in God. He is my strongman."

Record-setting wedding

When Suresh married his wife Christa, the nuptials were witnessed by 79 bridesmaids and 47 groomsmen -- setting world records for highest number of each at one ceremony.

It wasn't exactly what Christa had pictured when daydreaming of her ideal wedding. That said, she might have guessed what kind of life she was in for after meeting her future husband at a live radio broadcast where she watched him chat and play music for 120 hours -- another record.

"It definitely wasn't my idea," she said of the wedding. The event also featured the world's longest bouquet, an interwoven flower display held by Christa at one end and extending 62.09 metres down the aisle of Mississauga's Christ the King Catholic Church.

"At first my family thought, 'Oh my God, can you settle for this guy? He's crazy,'" she told CTV.ca.

Suresh, 39, stays at home while Christa, 32, goes to work. Christa said she supports her husband's goal of using his fame to draw attention to child poverty.

"It was hard for my parents to understand," she said. "They came around."

Besides looking after sons Joshua, 3, and Jacob, 5 months, Suresh trains in his home gym and meditates.

He usually attempts about one record a month. He says that would increase to two if he were able to get sponsors to pay for expenses such as travel to the best places to attempt certain records. 

Next stop: Bollywood stardom

These days he's looking for financial help to get to the U.K. so he can swim across the English Channel and back, and then across again.

He's also planning a trip to India in May to produce a Bollywood-style record-setting film with a volunteer crew that he already has in place.

If his plan goes off without a hitch, the film will set at least three records:

• shortest amount of time to make a film, from scriptwriting to screening
• highest number of costume changes by one character
• most roles executed by one person.

"I have to do everything: editing, dubbing, shooting," he said, noting he hopes to finish the film in 12 days in order to beat the current record. "I am acting as the main character in this movie and the producer as well."

Suresh set his two most recent records on April 18 at a fundraiser in Markham, Ont. There, patrons paid an entrance fee to watch him attempt the highest number of "star jumps" in one minute (60) and the farthest distance rowed in one hour on a Concept II rowing machine (11.191 km).

A star jump begins from a crouched position with both hands and feet touching the ground. The jumper then hops to a standing position where the arms are stretched out horizontally and the legs are spread apart.

The event raised about $20,000 for Project Hope, an international non-profit organization offering medical aid and training to people in poverty. Suresh says it's a start to what he hopes is a long career of using whimsical stunts to draw attention to the world's most serious problems.

Suresh has two goals he hopes to meet before calling it quits on his unique career: Earning 500 world records and running a peace marathon that would take him through 55 of the world's richest countries. He plans to use the run as a fundraiser for child poverty, although he has not yet decided which organization he will support.

"This is the good time to turn my way to spread the peace message and bringing more money to the children," said the earnest achiever. "I am ready to help any of them."

Suresh Joachim's world records include:

• Most bridesmaids at a wedding (79)
• Most groomsmen at a wedding (47)
• Long karaoke marathon (25 hours, 49 minutes)
• Longest drumming marathon (84 hours)
• Furthest distance rowed in one hour on a Concept II rowing machine (11.191 km)
• Longest duration balancing on one foot (76 hours, 40 minutes)
• Longest continuous ironing (55 hours, five minutes)
• World's longest bouquet (62.09 metres in length)
• Longest Elvis Presley impersonation (54 hours)
• Coach potato record for watching 69 straight hours of TV
• Longest time standing on one foot (76 hours and 40 minutes)
• Fasted time to crawl a mile (23 minutes, 45 seconds)
• Longest radio broadcast (120 hours)
• Longest time rocking in a rocking chair (74 hours)
• Longest distance run whilst carrying a 4.5 kg brick in an ungloved hand, in an uncradled downward position (126.675 km)
• Most star jumps in a minute (60)