Three Nigerian students have earned a coveted spot within the pages of Guinness World Records through their rope-skipping talent.
The trio, Gbenga Damilare Ezekiel, Dubem Dunsin Emmanuel and Solomon Philip Ayobami pushed their limits and revolutionised their training regimes to chase their dreams and secured a place as Guinness World Records 2025 stars.
The students began their journey towards a world record after they were unable to attend the world championships in the USA due to a lack of sponsorship and funds.
After powering through fatigue and stress, guided by Coach Ukandu Chibuisi, the trio broke four skipping records.
The students said it’s a dream come true and a thing of joy to achieve a Guinness World Records title, adding that it is the greatest thing that has happened in their life.
For Gbenga, an ambitious teenager with big dreams, he is passionate about rope-skipping and dancing, and describes achieving a Guinness World Records title as “the greatest thing that has happened in his life.”
Living in Akure, Nigeria, the 18-year-old student plans to become an entertainer in the future.
He loves the creativity that skipping offers, from dancing to freestyling with his rope, and has set three skipping records, which include most double-under skips in one minute on one leg, with 144 skips and most skips in one minute on one leg, a record he first broke in 2022, with 265 hops. He bettered his own record in 2023, achieving 278.
Gbenga started skipping when he was 14, and he recalls that Coach Chibuisi’s support played a crucial role in encouraging him to believe in himself.
“He applied for me and started training me until the day I attempted the record,” he said.
Practising for his first attempt took a long time, and the teenager only reached it after months of hard work.
However, once he got into the groove, achieving a second title seemed a much easier stunt: “It took me three months to train for my first world record, but the second one only took about a month.
“For me, to feature in the Guinness World Records 2025 book is a lifetime dream come true. It’s like reaching the pinnacle of my chosen path,” Gbenga said.
He said his family and friends are proud of his accomplishments – though they were initially surprised, not knowing he had been training for a record.
Once the news settled, he said everyone in his state was thrilled. His friends at school celebrated with him, and Ondo’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports visited his school to congratulate him on his incredible achievement.
“My goal for the future is to make people happy through entertainment,” he concludes, “and that’s what I am aiming for with rope skipping.”
Also, 17-year-old Dubem with the most double under crossovers (criss cross) while skipping in 30 seconds lives in Akure, where he studies and trains with his team, and achieved the record.
“What I love most about rope skipping is the fun. You can go at your own pace, invent new skills, and challenge anyone, regardless of age. I love it,” he said.
Most of all, however, the teenager declares that he’s especially proud to represent his hometown with his achievement, and to be the “first-ever Akure-born native to hold a Guinness World Records title.”
Because of that, he dedicated his achievement to “all the sons and daughters of Akure, no matter where they are in the world.”
In the future, the teen aims to bring even more positive changes to his local community by becoming a civil engineer.
“Even when I’m old, I can open the book, show my grandchildren and say, “Look at me when I was young. I achieved a Guinness World Records title.’ It’s a lifetime honour for me,” Dubem said.
Philip: Most rope crossovers (criss cross) while skipping on one leg in 30 seconds
Also, the 17-year-old Phillip, a passionate dancer and the third member of the record-breaking skipping trio said: “It wasn’t easy at all,” but he says that he is overjoyed to be an official Guinness World Records title holder.
Eventually, training rigorously for months and sharpening his criss-crossing skills, in August 2023 he achieved the most rope crossovers (criss cross) while skipping on one leg in 30 seconds – racking up a remarkable 69 skips in half a minute.
He also equaled the record for the most rope crossovers while skipping on one leg in 30 seconds blindfolded (with 62 skips).
In early 2023, the talented teen broke the record for most skips in 30 seconds on one foot (153).
When thinking about how he practised for his records, Philip remembers fondly the times when their coach would play music and ask them to improvise and dance while skipping.
“What I love most about jump rope is the flexibility and excitement when training with my teammates,” he said.
In his free time, the teenager loves playing baseball and aims to continue his studies to become a math teacher.
However, he assures that his dream of pursuing a career in math surely won’t stop him from breaking new records in the future!
“Becoming a record holder is one of the greatest things one can achieve in the world,” Philip said.
