<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=239FW9_1DPXLqmG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=239FW9_1DPXLqmG00" width="1200" height="600" >FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU/KTVF) - Day two of the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics brought record-breaking history to Fairbanks, as a Juneau athlete ended a 45-year-old world record in the grease pole walk.Leif Richards broke the greased pole walk world record Tuesday, surpassing the previous mark of 13 feet, 6 inches, by almost two feet, putting up a new best of 15 feet, 4.5 inches.The record had stood for 45 years and was last broken by Gene Andrews in 1981.Richards, a sophomore in college, said he did not expect to break the record. He has competed at WEIO four times — in 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026 — and said he first learned the games in second grade from his coach, Kyle World, during a gym class in Juneau.“Last year I got negative-two inches in grease pole walk. I don’t know, it’s just I come here for the community and to help people out,” Richards said. “Winning is just like a little fun upside."Richards said the greased pole walk is not an event most athletes specifically train for. He credited his success to other activities in his life. “I do rock climbing, ice climbing, and a tiny bit of slacklining, and it definitely helps,” he said.With the greased pole walk record now his, Richards said he is also competing in the swing kick and hopes to reach 68 inches in that event. He said he is also aiming to tie the world record in the traditional one foot high kick.Looking ahead to the coming year, Richards said he plans to focus more on practice after a first year of college that made training difficult to maintain.“Last year was my first year of college and learning how to live and keep on top of homework while trying to practice was kind of a lot,” Richards said. “This year, I hope to focus more on practicing and get some new PRs.”Saturday marks the final day of WEIO competition in Fairbanks.See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com</div></body>

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FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU/KTVF) - Day two of the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics brought record-breaking history to Fairbanks, as a Juneau athlete ended a 45-year-old world record in the grease pole walk. Leif Richards broke the greased pole walk world record Tuesday, surpassing the previous mark of 13 feet, 6 inches, by...

After 45 years, a world record is broken at WEIO

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FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU/KTVF) - Day two of the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics brought record-breaking history to Fairbanks, as a Juneau athlete ended a 45-ye

After 45 years, a world record is broken at WEIO

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