Egyptian wrestler Ashraf Mahrous, famously nicknamed Qabunga or Strongman, left spectators in awe on Saturday when he pulled a 700-ton ship with his teeth in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada.
Not stopping there, the 44-year-old powerhouse went on to tow two additional ships together, bringing the total weight to nearly 1,150 tons. Mahrous said he intends to submit his latest performance to Guinness World Records to challenge the existing 2018 record for pulling a 614-ton ship.
This isn’t Mahrous’s first brush with history. Earlier in March, he successfully pulled a 279-ton train with his teeth over a distance of 10 meters, earning him a Guinness certificate for moving the heaviest rail vehicle.
Over the years, he has also been recognized for feats such as towing a 15,730-kilogram truck, pulling the heaviest locomotive, and completing the fastest 100-meter road vehicle bridge challenge.
Training and diet of a strongman
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 155 kilograms, Mahrous maintains a strict training routine. He spends nearly six hours a day working out, with at least two sessions daily. Unlike many athletes, he insists he does not take supplements, relying instead on a protein- and iron-rich diet of eggs, chicken, and fish.
He credits his strength to both physical conditioning and mental focus, saying the secret lies in establishing a connection with the object so that it synchronizes with his heartbeat.
