Russian man hikes over 18,200km to Rio in 496 days

A 60-year-old traveler and athlete from Saint Petersburg has walked 18,272 kilometers to reach Rio de Janeiro, setting a new world record.

One year, four months and seven days — this is how much time it took Russian enthusiast Sergei Lukyanov to reach the Olympic capital by foot. He walked 18,272 km, excluding a necessary flight from Singapore to Santiago to cross the ocean.

Lukyanov could have reached the Olympic capital faster, but, unfortunately, he had to spend one and a half months in Russian hospital to have a surgery. According to his friend and manager Mikhail Sokolovskiy, the traveler set a new world record by completing this walk.

The brave traveler started his journey on April 1, 2015, at the Palace Square in Saint Petersburg. He took only a 7-kilogram backpack with him and wore out six pair of shoes during his "walk around the world," his manager told media.

Lukyanov walked 50-60 km a day in Russia and about 39 km a day abroad. In some countries, the speed depended on the visa regime: for example, he had to leave China as soon as possible in order to escape a fine, so he hiked 140 km just in two days.

The athlete arrived to Rio de Janeiro on August 7. In Brazil, he would like to meet with the legendary footballer Pele. He plans to return back to Saint Petersburg in Spring 2017.

Lukyanov is a master of sports of the USSR in 50 km race-walking. Over 50 years of his sports activities, he participated in more than 1350 various competitions. He is also recognized as the champion of the USSR and Russia in walking a 100 km distance in one-day and two-day races.