Lewisham man holds world record for most gyms in 24 hours

Leo Robertson, 34, has "always liked" the Guinness Book of World Records and has finally achieved his dream of breaking a record.

Gym buff Leo decided to centre his record around his love for the gym - which he says helps with managing his asthma.

With a strict criteria, Leo needed to complete 10 bicep curls with a 5kg weight in each gym before he could move on to the next.

(Image: Leo Robertson / SWNS)

After spending six months contacting all 52 gyms and preparing his route around east and central London, Leo hit the gym(s) on the June 20.

Raising £900 for Asthma + Lung UK, Leo started at 7:18am and completed his record attempt in 13hrs 49 minutes - beating the previous record of 50.

After submitting all his evidence to GWR, Leo was "ecstatic" to find out he had the new record, earlier this month.

He is now hoping to be in next year's edition of the Guinness World Records book.

Leo, a senior policy officer, said: "I've always liked the GWR book and since I was a kid it's helped me learn to read and be enthusiastic.

"I've been thinking about it for over a decade.

"I'm really into the gym and it's helped me through asthmatic episodes and it's good for your health.

"They told me the record was 50, so I thought let's do 52.

"I saw the most gyms anyone has seen in a day I think!

"Whilst I was doing it, I was raising awareness for Asthma + Lung UK too and I was sponsored by them and wearing all their gear."

Leo described the planning of the route as a "nightmare" as well as needing to call every single gym.

He said: "It was a nightmare.

"I had to put pins on Google Maps with the areas of the highest concentration of gyms.

"The criteria was by foot or public transport only so I focused on South East and then central London.

"I had to set up calls with every gym as obviously I couldn't pay for gym memberships for all of them!

"A lot of logistics behind it all.

"It took months to do.

"I started at my local gym for the route and worked my local area before getting a train to central London.

"It ranged from the high-street gyms to some more luxury gyms."

Leo decided bicep curls would be the quickest thing to do after initially thinking about using the treadmill.

He said: "10 reps of bicep curls at every gym I went to - 5kg "Run in and out.

"I had to take a photo of me in the gym and a video of me doing the reps as well as witness statements from each gym saying I was there and I did it.

"I had to have a live GPS tracker on so they could verify the distance travelled too.

"I hit a wall just after a big nutritious lunch - it was difficult and I was really tired at the end."

Upon completing the challenge, Leo said he was "tired but very happy."

He added: "I was going on a stag-do the next day!

"I was ecstatic though.

"I'm so thankful to everyone who donated to the campaign. We raised £900.

It took them about four months to confirm - mine took a little longer as there were so many moving parts.

"Once they'd given it to me you get invited to this private Facebook group that only record holders are in.

"I missed the cut-off date for the book that's out this year but the next release next September I should be in it."