“You know, not too many people are known for being fast when they’re 57.”
Mark Hanson, Juggler from Kanawha, Iowa
 |
| Photo by Marlon Bunday |
When Mark Hanson of Kanawha, Iowa (population 638) set out to break a world record, he had his hands full. Literally. Mr. Hanson is a juggler, a really fast juggler. When he saw that the world record for the most number of balls thrown in one minute was 339, he knew he could beat it, hands down. Mr. Hanson has been juggling for years. He says to be really good, and fast, you have to be ambidextrous. He wasn’t. So he practiced, and practiced, and practiced, until he developed “freaky fast reflexes.” Last weekend at the Winter Fun Festival in Mason City, Iowa (population 29,172), Mr. Hanson put his fast hands to the test and, after a few practice tries, threw a world-record-smashing 417 balls in one minute. Job well done, Mr. Hanson. Give him a hand.
To see Mr. Hanson set the Guinness World Speed Juggling Record, watch the video below:
Read more:
■ Andy Fales, Speed juggler: Small-town Iowa man is confident world record is his, WHO-TV, December 14, 2011. [includes video]
■ Deb Nicklay, Juggler claims new speed record, Globe Gazette, December 17, 2011.
3 comments:
Hi Beth,
My name is Mark Hanson, the guy with the freaky fast reflexes. Thanks for the nice write up.
You have a wonderful site and a flair for capturing the essence of stories with a few words, NOT an easy task.
Keep up the good work.
Regards,
Mark Hanson
P.S. After reviewing the video footage of my world record in slow motion we determined that the count was closer to 417 catches than 420. Guinness will end up being the final determiner of the count. I'll get the official results back from them in about 6 weeks.
Hi Mark. Thanks for the kind words, and congratulations on the world record -- 417 is still fast! I tried to find a Youtube video of you juggling -- I would've loved to have shown readers -- but I couldn't find one. If you ever create one and wouldn't mind if I show it here, I'll add it to the story.
Hi Beth,
I finally received word a few days ago that Guinness accepted my 3-ball speed juggling record.
Here is the link to the YouTube page for the video of me actually breaking the record.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyEoJxLfXWI
Here a link to a YouTube video that the Des Moines Register (Iowa's largest newspaper) did of me a few days after I found out the record was verified.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_XdcS6SwQk
Regards,
Mark Hanson
Post a Comment