Burkina Faso’s record-breaking log-lifting champ receives hero’s welcome
Cheick Ahmed al-Hassan Sanou, who broke the world record for log lifting in Scotland on the weekend, received a hero’s welcome upon his return to the West African country.
CAPE TOWN, September 23 (ANA) – Burkinabe athlete Cheick Ahmed al-Hassan Sanou, who broke the world record for log lifting at the Giants Live World Tour Finals in Scotland on the weekend, has received a hero’s welcome upon his return to the West African country.
Sanou, also known as Iron Biby, lifted a 229kg log over his head at the competition, breaking the previous world record of 228kg.
The strongman from Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, is the 2018 and 2019 World Log Lift Champion and holds the Guinness world record for most overhead presses (of a person) in one minute, according to reports.
He was welcomed on Monday to Ouagadougou International Airport as a national champion.
According to Africanews.com, members of the National Union of Stallion Supporters (UNSE) and many other fans of the strongest man in Burkina Faso wore T-shirts pronouncing his achievements.
In an interview with BBC News, Sanou said that he was bullied when he was younger but had turned his weight into his strength.
According to reports, the 29-year-old, who dedicated his trophy to Burkina Faso, said winning at the finals in Scotland was a big deal for him as he had been trying to beat this world record since 2018.
Sanou also received the congratulations of the President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré.
He dethroned the Lithuanian Žydrūnas Savickas, who had held the world record of 228kg set in 2005.
Wide World of Sports reported that Sanou, at 1.88m tall and 204kg, followed his world record with a celebration just as impressive – a cartwheel across the stage.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher