Stepping It Up for a Joggling Stair-Climb Guinness World Record in Maldives

Michal Kapral training in Toronto for the joggling stair-climb world record (Photo: Lauryn Kapral)

Life is full of ups and downs, but only the ups will count towards my latest Guinness World Record attempt for most consecutive stairs climbed while juggling without a drop. On Oct. 11, 2019, in Malé, Maldives, I'll be rising to the challenge in the world's flattest country, running and juggling up the equivalent number of steps of the world's tallest tower. The record attempt will take place six days after my Oct. 5 attempt to become the first person to race a 10K while joggling five balls.

Here's a news release:

Juggling Marathon Runner Steps It Up with New Guinness World Record Attempt for Juggling Stair Climb in Maldives, the World’s Flattest Country

TORONTO – September 13, 2019 – Michal “The Joggler” Kapral of Toronto, Canada, will be juggling three beanbags one toss and step at a time in Malé, Maldives, on October 11, 2019, as he attempts to run to a Guinness World Record for most consecutive stairs climbed while juggling three objects without a drop.

Kapral, 47, who owns several world records in the sport of joggling – running while juggling – including the fastest marathon while juggling three objects in 2 hours 50 minutes and 12 seconds, will rise to the world-record stair-climb challenge as part of a campaign to promote the destination for the Maldives Tourism Board.

“I’m super excited to smash this Guinness World Record with the world’s most stunning vacation destination as a backdrop,” says Kapral. “Maldives bills itself as ‘the sunny side of life’ and that’s exactly how I view running while juggling. It makes people smile and laugh. I’m looking forward to putting on a good show, running and juggling to new heights in the flattest country on Earth.”

This will be Kapral’s first attempt at a juggling stair-climbing record. The Guinness World Records rules state that he must juggle continuously throughout the attempt – and a dropped ball means the record attempt is over. He can juggle while running up and down a flight of stairs, but only the “up” stairs count towards the record.  

Malé, Maldives (Photo: Timo Newton-Syms)

Kapral will climb up and down a short flight of 10-20 outdoor stairs in the Maldivian capital city of Malé. He plans to reach at least 1,776 stairs, the equivalent of running up and down the staircase of the CN Tower in his hometown of Toronto, which until recently was the world’s tallest freestanding structure. If he surpasses the CNTower height, Kapral will keep climbing and juggling his way past 2,909 steps, the number of stairs to the top level of the 828-meter Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai, the world’s tallest building.  

There is no current record listed but Guinness World Records has set a minimum of 600 stairs to achieve the new record. In 2012, American Pete Moyer reportedly climbed 530 stairs at a hotel while juggling three beanbags. “I trained for this, but it hardly helped,” Moyer said after the climb. “It's extremely hard to breathe. If you want a good example, have someone strangle you while you walk your dog.” Kapral hopes to have a much more enjoyable experience juggling up the outdoor staircase in the fresh air of the azure paradise of Maldives.