You read it here first: Steven Perezluha, who this summer rode his bicycle from Florida to Alaska and back, has blown away the record for climbing the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning. His uncle, Danny Chew, had held the record at 101 times; that was broken earlier this month by triathlete Diana Marongiu-Lutz. I hope to have more details (and perhaps a link to a news story) later.
Steven's record-setting climb: 132 times!
UPDATE December 31, 2009
Nothing yet from the Pittsburgh papers, but Danny Chew's website has more details than you want to know and some pictures. Several other people joined them for the climb; too bad the former record holder wasn't there to defend her title.
Steven and Danny began their climb at 6:00 a.m. on December 26, and finished 23 hours and 52 minutes later at 5:52 a.m. December 27. Danny broke his own record by ascending 112 times. Steven's record-obliterating climb was a Double Everest: twice the distance from sea levelto the top of Mount Everest.
Not all sports photos show athletes looking their best. But I think I'd look this bad after being awake for 24 hours—never mind climbing Mt. Everest twice.
Photo credit: The Perezluha Family
