What's happened
Ashraf Mahrous, known as Kabonga, pulled a 700-ton ship with his teeth in Hurghada, Egypt, aiming to set a new Guinness World Record. He also pulled two ships totaling 1,150 tons, with plans for even larger feats. His strength and dedication have gained widespread attention.
What's behind the headline?
Mahrous’s feats highlight the extremes of human strength, blending entertainment with record-breaking ambition. His use of unconventional methods, such as pulling ships with his teeth and speaking to the objects, underscores a psychological component to his performance. The timing of his record attempt aligns with a broader trend of social media-driven stunts that seek viral fame. While his physical capabilities are impressive, the real impact lies in how such feats influence perceptions of human potential and the spectacle economy. His plans for pulling a submarine and a plane suggest a future where record-breaking stunts could become even more audacious, possibly pushing safety boundaries and raising questions about the limits of human endurance.
What the papers say
The articles from NY Post and The Independent both detail Mahrous’s recent ship-pulling attempt, emphasizing his goal to break the Guinness World Record. The NY Post provides a comprehensive account of his background, training, and future ambitions, while The Independent focuses on the specifics of the feat and Mahrous’s previous accomplishments. Both sources agree on the core facts but differ slightly in tone; the NY Post highlights his popularity and personal rituals, whereas The Independent emphasizes the technical details and his past record attempts. This contrast illustrates how different outlets frame extreme strength feats—either as entertainment or as serious record pursuits—yet both acknowledge Mahrous’s extraordinary physical feats and ambitions.
How we got here
Mahrous, a professional wrestler and strength athlete from Ismalia, has a history of extraordinary feats, including pulling trains and trucks. His training involves a high-protein diet and rigorous daily workouts. His goal is to gain recognition from Guinness World Records for his ship-pulling stunts, which he has performed multiple times over the years.
Go deeper
- How does Mahrous train for such extreme feats?
- What are the safety considerations for pulling ships with teeth?
- Could Mahrous's future plans realistically be achieved?
More on these topics
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Hurghada is a city in the Red Sea Governorate of Egypt. It is one of the country's main tourist centres located on the Red Sea coast.
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Guinness World Records, known from its inception in 1955 until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records and in previous United States editions as The Guinness Book of World Records, is a reference book published annually, listing world records both of human a
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Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia by a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula.