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Friday, November 21, 2008, 08:54
Robin Simpson (30), from Leeds – who holds 11 world records – gave a demonstration and talk at Hereford School, in Westward Ho.
Pupils (from left) Samantha, Rosie McHugh (14), Ryan Harrison (14) and Brad Koert (13) make Robin’s press ups a little tougher.
With records including completing 3,675 press ups and lifting 45,000kg in an hour, Robin hopes to be crowned the World’s Fittest Athlete next week, when he completes a 19-hour fitness challenge.
Robin – who trains so hard he can eat 9,000 calories a day – said: “When I was 20 I was overweight and lazy.
“I was out one night when I saw a programme about the Guinness Book Of Records and it inspired me to change my life.
“Within a year I was back in shape and ready to start making records myself.”
Robin believes motivating young people to get fit and active is a vital part of his work.
He said: “The biggest challenge I face is getting children to want to be fit.
“It is so important to show them how training can be fun, and how you can almost eat whatever you want as long as you balance it with exercise.”
Samantha Edmunds (13), from Grimsby, believes that keeping fit is important.
She said: “The fitter you are the more things you can do and it stops you from becoming overweight.
“I do lots of sport in school and dance three times a week outside of school.
“Keeping fit is fun and helps you make friends too.”
PE teacher Ally McMahon, himself a fitness fanatic, invited Robin into the school.
He said: “It is so important to promote health and fitness.
“Children need to be motivated and to know that there are no limits to what they can do in life, both physically and academically.”
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