A former Army Paratrooper is recovering after completing nearly 19 hours of non-stop sporting challenges to become the World's Fittest Athlete.
Paddy Doyle, from Solihull, knocked about 21 minutes off the previous record, held by American Rob Powell, of Waco, Texas, since 2001.
The 40-year-old Territorial Army volunteer started the challenge at 3am on Thursday at a gym near his home and finished 18 hours 56 minutes and nine seconds later, just before 10pm.
The record still has to be ratified by the World Record Holders' Association but is likely to be Mr Doyle's 130th fitness record in a career that has seen him secure 32 previous entries in the Guinness Book of World Records.
He said: "It was tough. Swimming was my weakest event. It's always been my weakest. It added a lot of time.
"The last four hours were like hitting a brick wall. A lot of cramp was setting in but the last two hours was especially painful for me.
"But I had the sports therapists at Solihull College where I work and other supporters. The atmosphere was brilliant. They carried me through it."
Mr Doyle, who won the World's Fittest Man title last April, previously held by American Joe Decker, said he collapsed at the end of the challenge and was tearful when told he had beaten the record.
After about a massage and other treatment he then went home for a good night's sleep.
The military access coordinator at Solihull College said the recovery process was likely to take up to a month before he set his sights on the next challenge - representing Great Britain in the World Record Games this summer.
