British athlete sets world record running across Australia

British ultra-endurance athlete William Goodge has claimed a new world record for running across Australia, completing the gruelling 3,800-kilometre journey in just 35 days. His feat cuts four days off the previous record of 39 days, set by fellow runner Chris Turnbull in 2023.

Goodge began his challenge on April 15 in Western Australia, running the equivalent of 90 marathons through harsh terrain including desert, farmland, and forest. He concluded his run on Monday at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach.

Averaging approximately 100 kilometres — or two and a half marathons — each day, the 30-year-old athlete described the experience as a “revolving nightmare.”

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, he said the first nine days were the most difficult but emphasised the power of mental resilience. “You have to tell your body and mind that even though you're struggling, you're going to persevere,” he said.

Goodge previously ran across the United States in 2023. He undertakes these extreme challenges to raise money for cancer charities in memory of his mother, who passed away from the disease in 2018.