Local Pretoria athlete to attempt world record for skipping rope
"I have eight hours to attempt to break the current record, but obviously I do not want to break it with only one skip."
A former kickboxing bronze medallist from the east of Pretoria will attempt to set a new world record for rope skipping.
SD Heijns (21) aims to break the current record by Sella Rosa Rega from New York’s number of jumps of 70 030 in eight hours.
To pin down his name in the record books, he will need to complete 70 031 skips.
“I have eight hours to attempt to break the current record, but I do not want to break it with only one skip,” he said.
The longest skip he has done is six hours at around 54 000 skips.
“I can do around 150 skips per minute.”
A specialised mat will automatically count the number of skips.
In preparation for the lead-up to the event, he does strength training and skipping rope two hours a day, four times a week.
“It is an unknown sport in South Africa. Skipping formed an integral part of my training regime to stay fit during Covid-19,” he said.
Heijns is an eight-time South African kickboxing winner and has been to two kickboxing world championships at the age of 15 and 17.
“I am taking a break from kickboxing as I started at the age of seven.
“My dad coached me and acted as national team manager.”
When asked why this specific record, he said that he has a great passion for rope skipping.
“I enjoy challenging myself and I am very confident that I will be able to see my name in the Guinness Book of World Records.
“It is all about the mindset, I am more excited for the day to finally arrive than being stressed about it.”
By the end of July, he wishes to set up new records of 100 465 skips in 12 hours and 168 395 skips in 24 hours.
“It would be my ultimate goal.”
After school, Heijns worked as a diving instructor in Sodwana for two years.
“I am very adventurous. I have seen the most beautiful sea creatures. It is a life-changing experience.”
If he can dive anywhere in the world, it would be in the Red Sea in Egypt.
His greatest role model is American ultra-endurance athlete David Goggins.
“He wrote a book, You can’t hurt me. He was a navy seal who faced a lot of challenges but overcame them.”
The event will take place on Friday, May 6 at Sun International’s Maslow Time Square hotel in Pretoria where anyone can come and support Heijns in his record attempt.
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