Swedish ‘Spin Duo’ break record for longest table tennis rally after over 13 hours

How long does your average basement table tennis rally last? 

An exchange of passes? Maybe a ruthless battle? Maybe the serve just flies right over the table?

Well consider taking lessons from these Swedes – the “Spin Duo”, as they like to call themselves – who just broke the record title for longest table tennis rally after spending a gruelling 13 hours 37 minutes and 6 seconds standing at the table.

Emil Ohlsson and Fredrik Nilsson are avid table tennis enthusiasts who spent four months training mentally and physically before attempting to break the record. The pair love posting table tennis content on their YouTube channel, and threw themselves head-on into the challenge.

This included mastering multitasking – such as eating while playing, which is not as easy as you’d expect.

On 20 July 2024, the pair walked through the grey walls of the pingisbar (ping-pong bar) Slice Malmö in Malmö, Sweden, and prepared to take on the challenge. Behind them, a giant clock was set up to count the length of the rally, and technical support was there to make sure neither of the pair cracked any paddles or popped any balls.

The pair were in high spirits all night, chatting leisurely while they lobbed the ball back and forth to each other over the net. Both Spin Bros wearing matching sneakers and athleisure, the sped-up livestream showed their drinks disappear and reappear over the course of the 13 hours, as they made their record-attempt look like an extra-long night hanging out with your friend.

According to the rules, the rally must be continuous, and players were not allowed to take breaks between passes. They kept themselves alert and energized by socializing, jumping up and down, and stretching in the limited time they had before the ball came arching back.

Emil and Fredrik celebrated every time they surpassed a national or world record for longest rally, so when they finally beat the previous record (held by Daniel Ives and Lloyd Gregory, both UK, since June) they were thrilled and threw their hands in the air with joy.

Overcome with emotion, they jumped into each other's arms as their happy friends and family cheered and sprayed champagne over the table tennis talents. 

Header image: Josh Sorenson / Pexels