Cuban athlete Jhoen Lefont has broken a new world record by balancing a soccer ball on his head for 8 minutes and 30.66 seconds while carrying an additional five-kilogram weight around his waist. This remarkable achievement took place on Thursday at the Baraguá swimming complex, located east of Havana, as reported by the specialized portal Jit.
Dubbed "The Dolphin" for his aquatic skills, Lefont executed synchronized arm and leg movements in the pool to stay afloat during the record-setting performance, demonstrating not only skill but also incredible physical and mental stamina. "I aimed to achieve this new mark in celebration of the 505th anniversary of Havana's founding and the Day of Physical Culture and Sports," the athlete stated to Cuba's state-controlled press.
Innovative Aquatic Challenges
The Matanzas native explained, "The training is very demanding; I try to adapt land-based sports to the water, and this is one of the most difficult." He emphasized the rewarding nature of the experience as a fitting conclusion to a year full of accomplishments.
Lefont, who holds around 20 world records, including nine officially recognized by the Guinness World Records, expressed immense satisfaction with this latest milestone. Among his most notable achievements are the records for the most consecutive ball touches with the head and the longest time balancing a ball in the water, always under challenging conditions.
Coach's Optimism for the Future
Jorge del Valle, Lefont's coach and a former water polo player and ex-coach of the Cuban women's national team, praised the accomplishment: "We've had a successful 2024, and the coming year promises to be even better. Jhoen is working on innovative techniques that will continue to amaze," Del Valle remarked.
In September, Lefont had also set another world record by traveling 750 meters in Varadero, Matanzas, while balancing a soccer ball on his head, surpassing his previous record of 600 meters. This further cements his legacy as one of the top specialists in this unique discipline.