Swedish Adventurer Beats Nature and Sets a new World Record in Vertical Run

VASTERAS, Sweden, May 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The record involved running 100 meters down the front of a skyscraper in central Vasteras, face down using a rope. Berglund beat the former world record in Vertical Run, of 36.25 seconds set by Britain's Steve Jones. The record was supervised by Guinness World Records' own adjudicator from London on site in Vasteras.

"This is a once in a lifetime achievement. Especially because we had to postpone the attempt one day due to heavy winds. I was confident I could beat the record and everything worked out just as planned. I defeated the forces of nature and my own fears", Berglund said.

In order to make the attempt possible the skyscraper had to be extended which made it the third highest skyscraper in Sweden for one day. A 20 meter high framed structure was temporarily built on top of the skyscraper and made it over 100 meters tall.

Berglund also had to use a specially constructed carbon dioxide cooled rappelling device to prevent the rope from melting by the heat created by the high speed.

Press Images, News Graphics and Videos from the record:

Will be available for downloading from: http://tinyurl.com/ye82zo4 (here you also find a longer version of the press release with some background information).

Visit http://www.verticalrun.se to find out more about Vertical Run

About Vasteras

Vasteras is Sweden's sixth largest city. It is situated in the heart of the well-populated Malardalen region, beside lake Malaren and just a one-hour drive from Stockholm, the capital. Vasteras is renowned for its business enterprises and entrepreneurs - it is the birthplace of the H&M retail chain and ABB's hometown (ABB is a global leader in power and automation technologies). Mikael Genberg's (local artist) surreal art installations and hotels have attracted worldwide attention.

SOURCE Vasteras & Co