INSPIRATION Health scare leads mom to barefoot world record

AFTER months of training, Gabrielle Wall, a 44-year-old education consultant from Christchurch, New Zealand, achieved a remarkable feat: she set the world record for the fastest 100-metre barefoot sprint on Lego bricks.

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Her journey to this record was not just about speed; it was a testament to resilience and determination.

Wall’s motivation stemmed from a life-changing diagnosis. In September 2022, doctors informed her that she might have blood cancer.

Ultimately diagnosed with immune thrombocytopenia, a nonfatal blood disorder, Wall gained a newfound appreciation for life. This prompted her to tackle her bucket list, which included setting a world record.

“I wanted to do something that would interest my children, Archie and Alfie, who love building Lego sets,” Wall said. While many have attempted records for walking barefoot on Lego bricks, no one had yet sprinted over them. Wall decided to take on this challenge.

The idea initially seemed ludicrous. “T thought, ‘That would be funny, but I couldn't actually do that,’” she recalled.