Over the weekend, James Roumeliotis reclaimed the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive jumps on a pogo stick, not only for himself but for the New England Center and Home for Veterans.
After a non-stop 11 hours and 38 minutes, Roumeliotis completed 115,170 bounces, destroying the previous record of 88,047 jumps.
The Tewksbury, Massachusetts native initially earned him the title in 2007, though under slightly more lenient rules. Back then, it was the “longest marathon on a pogo stick,” with breaks allowed.
“At the time, that was what they call now ‘longest marathon on a pogo stick,’ which is the number of bounces, but you [got] a five-minute break every couple of hours,” Roumeliotis explained.
After losing the title in 2015, Roumeliotis decided it was time to bounce back, and this time he meant business. No breaks, no rest – just pure, unadulterated pogo stick action.
“It’s non-stop,” Roumeliotis said. “If I slip, if I fall, if I trip, it’s over.”
But this record-breaking endeavor wasn’t just about personal glory. In 2007, Roumeliotis did it for medical research, and this time, he’s “Hopping for Heroes,” raising funds for the New England Center and Home for Veterans.
“At any point, any day, they can have hundreds of veterans staying overnight,” Roumeliotis explained. “They help them get back on their feet, back into the community, and plugged in, helping them as best they can.”
By the end of the day, Roumeliotis had surpassed his goal of $10,000, raising an astonishing $11,549.63 — and counting.
FINAL UPDATE: James Roumeliotis of #Tewksbury not only broke the @GWR for Consecutive Bounces on a Pogo Stick, he “destroyed” it, just like he told me he wanted to do. Will @Xpogo says the unofficial count is 115,170 bounces in 11 hours, 38 minutes. @NECHV @wbznewsradio pic.twitter.com/jHgsknc5T9
— Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) September 10, 2023
