Noble Cause Makes Young Harvard Student Join Record Book

A Harvard University student set the standing time record on an exercise ball by overcoming 5 hours and 25 minutes in this condition. Garrett Lam, 21, did the feat in September, and on the 28th of the same month was officially informed that he would join the Guinness Book of Records.

By then, Lam had been able to stand on the rubber ball for 3 hours, but his motivation to become the world record holder had a greater purpose. The intention was to gain greater visibility and raise funds for Harvard College of Effective Altruism, a charity that seeks to work to do good and improve the world.

"We can do a lot of good things without such a sacrifice, " the student said in a telephone interview with the Boston Globe. He has created a website to receive donations and has so far raised about $ 1, 500. The goal is to reach at least US $ 3, 400.

The young American said he learned about the existence of this record almost two years ago. At first she didn't even consider accepting the challenge of breaking it. Only when he saw the possibility of combining the feat with fundraising for the institution of which he is part did his interest arouse, and he decided to do so.

Breaking the record

The nearly 5 and a half hours Garrett Lam faced standing on a rubber ball are recorded in the video that was posted on his YouTube channel (top). With a watch just behind the young man counting the time for the accomplishment of the feat, a few witnesses were present to certify that he complied with all Guinness rules.

To fulfill his goal, the American said he did not go through major preparations. A few weeks earlier, he practiced for 2 hours in front of the TV, but it was no more. On the day of the great deed, then, he felt the real difficulty. Already standing for an hour on the 75-centimeter rubber ball, his legs began to tremble, and he had to help his balance by spreading his arms.

Lam explained that this was precisely the biggest complication. His legs were twitching, and constantly he needed to find a way to ease them, making balance harder.

“At the end of the challenge, I was very happy, but I couldn't walk for a few hours, ” said the young man. As told in an interview with the Boston Globe, for all the pain he felt, he only wants to fight for the record again if he has a higher purpose. “I don't think I would do that for personal satisfaction. But if people follow me and continue to support these causes, I'll try again, ”he said.