US sumo wrestler aims to become heaviest person ever to run marathon

A 29-stone sumo wrestler from the US is aiming to become the heaviest person ever to run a marathon this weekend.

Kelly Gneiting, a hospital statistician and sumo wrestler from Arizona, will secure the official world record if he completes the Los Angeles marathon in California on Sunday.

Gneiting, 40, said he wanted to run the 26-mile race as an inspiration to "people who are overweight, have low self-esteem and think they can't achieve things".

"I have high self-esteem and believe I can do anything," the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

"I'm big, but I feel like I have a talent for this."

Gneiting, who is originally from Idaho, is 6ft tall and has a 5ft waist. He is a three-time American sumo champion and has represented the US at the world championships.

He said that his size made running uncomfortable.

"It's hard on my feet, my thighs and under my armpits," he said.

He plans to wear slick black Lycra leggings to prevent friction.The current record for the heaviest marathon runner is just under 20 stone.

Gneiting, who last time took 11 hours, 45 minutes, is aiming to finish in less than nine hours.

"I'm going to run as fast as I can," he said.

"So I can show all my critics,' he added.