Feature: Greek teacher breaks world rope-jumping records thanks to COVID lockdown
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E-mail Xinhua, February 13, 2022
by Maria Spiliopoulou
ATHENS, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese language teacher in Greece has broken two world records for rope-jumping, after taking up the sport during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.
Panagiotis Polydoras was the first person to run a half-marathon (21 km) while skipping, in Athens on Oct. 3, 2021. A few weeks later, he smashed another world record with the fastest mile skipping rope.
The Greek teacher is still waiting for formal ratification from Guinness World Records, while also training to skip a full marathon -- possibly next year in Beijing.
During a break from his training at Holargos stadium in Athens, the 36-year-old told Xinhua his passion for skipping was born when he was struggling with being stuck at home for weeks during the first COVID lockdown in early 2020.
"I tried to find alternative ways to train," he said. "So, my girlfriend gave me a rope and I just started skipping."
At first, he could barely stand. However, as time passed he improved, and he set himself a new challenge.
Surfing the internet to find ways to make skipping more fun, he discovered a trend for running while jumping rope. Polydoras gave it a try, and soon began covering more and more kilometers.
On Oct. 3, 2021, he ran the half-marathon at the municipality of Kallithea in the Greek capital, and broke the Guinness world record by about ten minutes.
Next, on Dec. 5, 2021 at Holargos stadium, Polydoras broke the Guinness world record for running a mile while skipping rope in five minutes and 58 seconds.
After studying media and communication at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Polydoras abandoned journalism for the Chinese language. He has been studying Chinese for the past 15 years, and teaching it for nine.
As traveling became difficult during the pandemic, Polydoras missed speaking Chinese with locals while visiting Beijing and Shanghai.
Through his teaching work, Polydoras aims to build bridges between Greek and Chinese people.
"Chinese people respect Greek people, and it goes the other way too. So, everything starts from there," he said. Enditem
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