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Moses Lanham JrAmerican with extraordinary flexibility of legs
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Biography of Mr. Elastic
- A Journey to Rome for Guinness World Records
- Setting Guinness World Records
- The Comfort of an Unusual Position
- The Inheritance of a Unique Ability
- Becoming a Local Celebrity
- Television Appearances
Biography of Mr. Elastic
An American with Extraordinary Leg FlexibilityMr. Elastic, an American known for his incredible ability to twist his legs in a way that makes it appear as though he is standing (and even walking!) with his feet turned backwards.
A Journey to Rome for Guinness World Records
In late March 2011, Moses Lanham Jr., a 49-year-old tax accountant and theater employee from Monroe, a small town in southeast Michigan, embarked on a journey to Rome to set two new world records at the Guinness World Records Show.
Setting Guinness World Records
Initially, two judges from the Guinness World Records commission evaluated how far back he could twist his legs - Lanham himself estimated his ability to be around 120 degrees. Even if there were another person with the same ability to walk with their feet turned backwards, Lanham was confident that he could always reclaim his record.
The second record attempt involved how quickly Mr. Elastic could walk 20 meters with his feet turned backwards. Lanham aimed for a time of 30 seconds. No one had previously attempted such a record, making Moses Lanham the first.
The Comfort of an Unusual Position
Although it may appear strange and possibly painful, Lanham insists that he does not experience any discomfort. He also claims that he does not require stretching or warm-up exercises. In fact, he often twists his legs even when sitting, as it is more comfortable for him.
The Inheritance of a Unique Ability
Accompanying him on the show was his 17-year-old son, Trey Lanham, who inherited his father's unique ability but to a lesser extent - Trey is not as flexible and experiences discomfort after a few minutes. Moses was disappointed with this situation as he had hoped to retire and become his son's manager.
According to doctors who have carefully examined Moses Lanham's internal structure, he was born with an excess of tissue and cartilage in his joints, making his thighs, knees, and ankles extraordinarily elastic. There were no known individuals with the same characteristics in his family history until Lanham passed them on to his son.
Becoming a Local Celebrity
Lanham discovered his abilities at the age of 14 quite by chance while attempting to climb a rope during a gym training session. When he let go of the rope, he fell almost 18 feet (5.5 meters) and landed in a frightening position. Everyone thought he had dislocated his legs, but he stood up and felt fine.
He quickly gained popularity in his small town and often practiced walking with his feet turned backwards during his senior years in high school. In college, Moses took it a step further by wearing clothes backward, creating the illusion that it was not his legs but his head that was facing the wrong way. This spectacle attracted a lot of attention.
Television Appearances
In addition to being a local celebrity, Moses Lanham started to appear on television shows over time, including "Candid Camera" with Allen Funt, "Ripley's Believe It or Not!", "America's Funniest Home Videos", "Jimmy Kimmel Live", and "Medical Incredible" on the Discovery Channel.
