In antiquity, the 'Pillars of Hercules' referred to the two massive promontories flanking the Strait of Gibraltar, through which the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. During the Hellenic period, the Pillars of Hercules represented the limits of the known world to the ancient Greeks. According to Greek mythology, the pillars were set there by Hercules as a memorial to his labour of seizing the cattle of the giant Geryon.
Today, the Pillars of Hercules refer to two massive pillars — each measuring approximately 123 inches in height, 20.5 inches in diameter, and weighing 160 kilograms (350 pounds) — and the Herculean sport of holding them together for as long as one can. A test of both strength and endurance, the sport involves an athlete gripping the two large, heavy pillars, and attempting to hold them in place, preventing them from falling as they pull in opposite directions.
On November 11, 2024, Surat-based athlete Vispy Kharadi was officially confirmed to have broken the world record for the longest duration holding the Hercules Pillars — holding them for 2 minutes 10.75 seconds. According to the Guinness World Records website the pillars weighed 166.7 kg and 168.9 kg; 123 inch in height, 20.5 inch in diameter; chained at a distance (from base of pillar) of 68.5 inch at an angle of 35-45°.The truly Herculean feat was recorded by the Guinness World Records management team and entered into the Guinness Book of World Records.
The official announcement video of Kharadi's world record-breaking achievement was posted by the official Guinness World Records handle on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week and went viral, amassing over ninety thousand likes and eleven thousand shares.
Surprisingly, this is not Kharadi's only Guinness World Record. According to the Guinness World Records website, the athlete — also known as the 'Steel Man of India' — holds the Guinness World Records of "most iron bars bent with the neck in one minute" (21); "most iron bars bent with the head in one minute" (24); "most people on a one inch bed of nails sandwich" (11); "most concrete blocks broken with elbow in one minute" (64); "heaviest concrete block break on a bed of nails sandwich" (male) (528 kg); "heaviest concrete block break on a bed of nails" (male) (964.80 kg); and "most people in a one inch bed of nails sandwich" (10) as well.
According to a report by Zee News, Kharadi is a multiple black belt holder and Krav Maga specialist. He also holds an MBA degree from IIM-B and is a certified sports nutritionist from the International Sports Science Academy in the US. He works as a stunt choreographer, actor, model, strength coach, and fitness expert. Follow him here.
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