Hand Walker Sets New Guinness World Record for 'Inverted Stair-Walking' at Patriot Place

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Mark Kenny, the world’s best hand walker, showcased his unique talent at Patriot Place on Saturday, May 3, by setting a new Guinness World Record for “inverted stair-walking” when he walked, on his hands, down a five-story flight of stairs (77 steps) in 30.8 seconds.

“I’m really happy to share this record with my friends and family,” Kenny said. “Especially my three children, who were not born when I originally set the record.”

Kenny, 49, broke his own world record, which stood for 19 years, by four seconds on the NRG Plaza staircase adjacent to the Gillette Stadium ticket office with friends, family and a youthful crowd of Hockomock Area YMCA Healthy Kids Day participants cheering him on.

“It was a very energetic crowd and an exciting atmosphere with lots of kids from the YMCA supporting me,” Kenny said. “Patriot Place was the perfect place to break my world record and I am glad I was able to do it at such a cool venue.”

Kenny, who grew up in Norwood and lives in Plymouth, has appeared on numerous TV shows, including “Late Night with David Letterman,” “Live With Regis and Kelly,” “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” and “Guinness World Records Primetime.” He had aspirations of being in the Guinness World Record book since he was a kid and after plenty of practice – and balance – accomplished his goal in 1995.

“I started out walking on my hands as a kid just for fun,” Kenny said. “It turned into a great workout when I was a wrestler in high school and college to build strength and balance. I’ve continued to do it as a form of exercise and set the original record in Philadelphia on the stairs made famous by the Rocky movie.”

On May 3, Kenny began his world record attempt on the 77th step of the NRG Plaza staircase at 12:15 p.m. with one thought in mind – don’t fall!

“I kept telling myself to stay up and keep the momentum going,” said Kenny. “Trying to find your balance at the start of the attempt is always the hardest part and trying to keep going when you’re nearing the end is a challenge, but the middle of the attempt is easy.”

In addition to Kenny’s world record-setting performance, Patriot Place hosted the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day, which encouraged kids to be active through a variety of activities, including obstacle courses, knock out basketball games, family boot camp and fitness classes, Y camp activities, arts and crafts and much more. Prizes, raffles, coupons, goody bags and YMCA passes were also part of the day.

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