'Big Joe' goes for another world record in Nairobi

Nairobi will be the centre of attraction today as Kenya-born American basketball trickster Joe Odhiambo goes for his 18th world record in ball handling.

Just last June, “Big Joe” reclaimed one of his world records in Maui, Hawaii — spinning one basketball for the longest time on one hand, a feat that lasted 12 minutes and 43 seconds. The previous record stood at 11 minutes and 22 seconds.

At Nairobi’s Charter Hall on Saturday, Odhiambo will attempt to set two more world records, one for spinning two basketballs for the longest time on two hands and the second for juggling two basketballs and spinning one on a finger.

The day’s programme will start with a morning basketball clinic paving way for the world record attempt shortly after 1pm.

“I set my first world record during the NBA All-Star games in Houston Texas at Toyota Center. Since then, I have set record all over the world. This will be the first attempt at setting one a record in my home country, Kenya,” said Odhiambo who won five national secondary schools titles from 1982 to 1986 at St Theresa’s and St Patrick’s Iten.

Odhiambo currently has seven ball handling records to his name in the Guinness Book of World Records but has broken a total of 17 in his career.