A SCOTTISH cyclist has been named a Guinness World Record holder after pedalling around the world nearly three weeks faster than the previous best time.
Jenny Graham from Inverness completed her journey in just 124 days and 11 hours, beating a record set by Paola Gianotti from Italy of 144 days.
The 39-year-old’s 18,000-mile journey began on June 16 last year at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate and took her through 16 countries including Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, China, Australia, the USA, Portugal, Spain and Holland.
She cycled for about 13.5 hours each day with a daily average of 156 miles. She also took four flights and a boat journey in the unsupported record attempt.
Graham said: “I was curious to see how far I could go and now I’m officially a world record holder. When I set off this time last year, I wasn’t sure what lay ahead, but the journey was awe-inspiring, exhausting and ultimately life-changing.
“I’d encourage anyone to get out on their bike and discover they are capable of far more than they think.”
As well as working full-time with Highland Council and being co-director of cyclists’ organisation the Adventure Syndicate, Graham spent a year preparing for the trip and cycled up to 20 hours a week. She will feature in the Guinness World Records 2020 edition.
The achievement was announced to mark the launch of Guinness World Records Day, being held on November 14.
Graham was joined by male record-holder and fellow Scot Mark Beaumont and Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday.
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