Lebanese Man Aspires to Break World Record in Tugging Trucks with His Ponytail

Alex Riachi is aspiring to enter the record books through his ability to drag trucks with his ponytail, reported the National News Agency.

The 30-something Zahle native has succeeded in dragging two trucks, of a combined weight of 10 tons, with his ponytail.

Chaining the trucks to his ponytail, he succeeds in his mission and hopes to enter the Guinness book of world records.

“I derive my strength from the city of Zahle and its nature,” he told NNA, adding that he trains to the songs of Nicolas al-Osta.

“The city inspires me and motivates me to do the impossible,” he declared.

Riachi lamented however the lack of any official backing for his goal, noting that the world record is held by an Indian national who has only managed to drag 6.4 tons with his hair, while he has broken the 10-ton barrier.

The son of wrestling champion Tanios Riachi, known as “Lebanon's Samson”, Alex urged, through NNA, President Michel Suleiman to back his goal.

He revealed that he is also capable of tugging an airplane with his hair, but he has not been granted permission to do so at Beirut's international airport.

Contacted by NNA, Sports and Youth Minister Faisal Karami revealed that the ministry does not have the authority to sponsor any athlete.

He did however present Alex Riachi's case to a number of specialized companies that never got back to him.

On his request to tug an airplane, the minister revealed that he could contact Transportation and Public Works Minister Ghazi al-Aridi to fulfill this dream “and not just drag one plane, but two.”

Riachi's abilities are not limited to dragging trucks, but he can also break large rocks with his hands and sustain the weight of a 700-kilogram rock on his chest, said NNA.