19-07-2025
Wai Ching smashes stair-climb world record
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's Soh Wai Ching smashed a Guinness World Record in a gruelling one-hour stair climb machine challenge at a shopping mall here today.
The famed tower runner set a new world mark (1.78km) for the farthest simulated distance climb on a stair machine in one hour. It surpassed the previous record of 1.74km set by Britain's David Mahoney in May.
Amid a display of great endurance and mental strength, Wai Ching completed the feat without holding the machine's handrails.
"I don't hold the rails. That's my principle. Even though it's allowed, holding the handrails feels like cheating," he said.
Wai Ching was also awarded with four Malaysia Book of Records awards for his achievements today.
He clocked the fastest time in climbing the equivalent height of the Petronas Twin Towers (451.9m) in 14 minutes and 46 seconds, then "ran across" virtual landmarks including Merdeka 118 (680.5m) in 22 minutes and 18 seconds, and completed a vertical kilometre climb in 33 minutes and 11 seconds.
For Wai Ching, the challenge was deeply personal. "After becoming a world champion, I lost my goal. I lost the fire to pursue greatness," he admitted.
"I even asked myself — maybe I should retire. But this world record attempt was about challenging human limits. I wanted to see how far I could go."
That challenge was tested when a severe cramp struck with eight minutes remaining. "I really shouted many times, I felt like quitting. But I just had to hang on, believe I could do it, and push," he said.
Wai Ching's other challenges for the year are the Kuantan 188 Towerton at Menara Kuantan next Saturday and the Merdeka 118 Sky Race, the Asia Oceania Championship in August.
"My main goal is to defend our home turf — not let anyone else win because it's in Malaysia," he said.
Fellow tower runner Valerie Sarah Ong also entered the Malaysia Book of Records today.
Valerie set a new national women's record for the Longest Vertical Climb (1.33km) on a stair climb machine in one hour.
"The most difficult part was the mental challenge," said Valerie. "Even though my body could still move, my mind kept asking me to stop. It took a lot of mental grit and self-talk to keep going."
