Ted St. Martin World record holder for most consecutive free throws made in basketball Date of Birth: 01.01.1964 Country: USA

1. Ted St. Martin: The Basketball Free Throw Legend
2. Early Years and Humble Beginnings
3. Reigniting the Passion
4. The Record-Breaking Journey
5. Coaching Dreams and NBA Aspirations

Ted St. Martin: The Basketball Free Throw Legend

Ted St. Martin, a 55-year-old Jacksonville, Florida native, holds the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive successful free throws in basketball. Despite never playing in the NBA or college basketball, St. Martin's mastery of the free throw line has earned him international recognition.

Early Years and Humble Beginnings

Growing up in Naches, Washington, St. Martin participated in basketball, but his talent for free throws never translated to star status on his high school team. He eventually abandoned team play, but his love for the game's purest form—free throws—continued to burn. Despite his lackluster performance as a reserve guard, word of his remarkable free throw abilities spread throughout the region. "I chased the ball," he recalls. "I always enjoyed playing defense, but free throws were always my thing."

Reigniting the Passion

At the age of 35, St. Martin, then a farmer in Riverdale, California, felt a pang of disappointment at having neglected his beloved sport. On a whim, he attached a hoop to his barn and began shooting. To his surprise, he realized he could make a few hundred free throws in a row, yet he still didn't give it much thought. After all, he had always been a good free throw shooter, placing third in a regional competition at age 13.

The Record-Breaking Journey

However, those who witnessed St. Martin's backyard resurgence, including friends and family, were astonished when he successfully executed 514 consecutive free throws. "After that, I called the Fresno Bee newspaper to find out what the record was for most free throws made in a row," St. Martin remembers. "They did some research and found out it was 144. And I said, 'Hold on to your hats! I'm going to break that record!'"

In an attempt to set a new record before a crowd, St. Martin came up short, missing his 87th shot. Undeterred, he rallied a group of doubters and skeptics and made 200 straight free throws. From that moment forward, the 5'7" sharpshooter continued to set new records, culminating in an astonishing 2,036 consecutive free throws on June 25, 1977. His Guinness World Record of 5,221 was achieved in 1996, taking more than seven hours to complete.

Coaching Dreams and NBA Aspirations

"It was automatic," St. Martin recalls of that April day. "I just went through the motions. That's how I always shot free throws—by the motion."

Today, St. Martin enjoys sharing his knowledge as a coach, conducting clinics both locally in Jacksonville and on the road. While he has not been given the opportunity to coach elite players like Shaquille O'Neal, St. Martin is confident that his expertise would benefit the NBA.

"I would love to work with any NBA guy," St. Martin declares. "Dwight Howard, LeBron James, any of those guys. Anybody shooting under 75 percent. I'd love to work with them."

"I could get them up to the 90s. It wouldn't take very long. It might be a little bend in the knee or a little adjustment in their shot. That's all it is. I guarantee I could get them up to the 90s."