Chinese man sets new Guinness World Record for kneeling jump

A sports enthusiast from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, has set a new Guinness World Record for the highest kneeling jump, Hangzhou Daily reported on Sunday.

Sun Punan, 27, jumped 76 centimeters (29.92 inches) on Aug 20, breaking the previous record of 70.16 centimeters set by Tyler Lutz of the United States in 2021.

The kneeling high jump is a relatively obscure sport, but it requires a great deal of strength and flexibility. Participants kneel on the ground with their ankles and toes flat against the surface, then use the strength of their hips to jump onto a designated height and maintain a standing position.

Sun explained that most people find it difficult to stand up from a kneeling position, let alone jump. Even without kneeling, the average person can only jump vertically to about 50 to 60 centimeters. This shows how difficult it is to achieve a height of over 70 centimeters by kneeling jump.

Sun said that he was nervous during his first two attempts at the record, but he was able to overcome his nerves and succeed on his third try. He has been involved in fitness training since middle school and keeps up with daily workouts.

Sun is now setting his sights on a new goal: breaking the Guinness World Record for the highest standing jump. He is also working as a sports influencer, inspiring many people, especially young people, to transform their bodies.

The Guinness World Records organization presented Sun with an honorary certificate to commemorate his achievement.