Tai chi master duped in world record bid
Tai chi master David Thew has been forced to abandon his efforts to register his world record with the Guinness Book of Records after his videographer failed to deliver all of the footage of the attempt.
The 54-year-old Temuka man beat the world record for longest tai chi marathon at the Temuka Alpine Energy Stadium last April, overcoming dehydration and sleep deprivation to beat the standing record of 29 hours with 30 hours and 15 minutes and raise $2600 for the South Canterbury Cancer Society.
Thew said he had to withdraw his world record application after the man he paid $900 to film it did not produce the footage needed to prove his success to the Guinness Book of Records.
Thew said that after 10 months of the videographer not replying to calls, emails, or social media messages requesting the footage be uploaded, he managed to track him down – in Sussex, England.
He said the man at last added the footage to the application and Thew spent days combing through the files.
‘‘What I found was about nine files were doubled up, about four hours were missing, and there was a one-minute discrepancy between one file and the next,’’ Thew said.
‘‘We can’t delete any files, only add. We can’t keep adding more files that are missing because it would be a total mess.
‘‘I had to withdraw the application. There was nothing else I could do.’’
Thew knew ‘‘in my heart’’ he, alongside every supporter and wellwisher, beat the record.
‘‘I always try and find a positive out of every situation. I think it’s a good lesson of impermanence,’’ he said.
‘‘Everyone came together, taking shifts through the night and through the day, and just had fun and raised money for cancer.
‘‘You can’t put a price on that. Being part of that is worth more than any world record.’’
But he would not be aiming to beat it again. A Canadian man, Sam Michaud, had already beaten his attempt and was going through the application process – while the current record holder, British woman Sheila Dickinson, was training towards beating Michaud.
‘‘I think I’ll leave them to it. It’s time to move on and do new things, new challenges, and help people help themselves,’’ Thew said.
‘‘I’ll still be teaching and representing New Zealand on the world stage.’’
Thew has been practising tai chi for about 37 years and has won two gold and four silver medals across a number of World Kung Fu Championships.