Meet our mentors
For over 70 years, Guinness World Records has aimed to inspire the next generation of record-breakers no matter the challenges they might encounter.
Meet the six mentors who will help us harness the expertise of our record-breaking community, encouraging the next generation of record-breaking superstars to aim high and follow their dreams.
Apply as a mentee Back to the Mentor SchemeAre you ready to embrace your full potential?
Here you can find out more about our six amazing mentors, their outstanding achievements and their records:
- Jesse Dufton, First blind person to lead a climb of Old Man of Hoy
- Karenjeet Kaur Bains, Most times to squat lift own bodyweight in one minute (female)
- Martin Rees, Completing 20 magic tricks while submerged in a tank of water
- Jason Auld, Heaviest single weight lifted by barbell overhead press while riding a unicycle
- Lee Spencer, Longest distance rowed solo by an amputee
- Victoria Evans, Fastest female solo row across the Atlantic on the Trade Winds I route (open-class)
Jesse Dufton
He completed it with no rehearsals on top rope, no aid, no falls or other roped assistance. At the time of the record, he could only count on light perception.
The epic adventure was captured by filmmaker Alistair Lee, who followed the expedition and produced the 2020 documentary Climbing Blind.
Today, Jesse doesn't only enjoy outdoor climbing: he takes part in outdoor and indoor competitions, and is an expert ice climber.
Karenjeet Kaur Bains
Star of Guinness World Records 2023, 26-year-old Karenjeet is a young athlete who broke the record for most times to squatlift own bodyweight in one minute (female).
She surpassed the previous record with an incredible 42 reps.
Her motto is "You are stronger than you think you are!"
She lives by these words every day, challenging her limits and pursuing her dreams while also inspiring the younger generation to do the same.
"To say I have made a mark in history by not only being the First British Sikh Female to represent Great Britain in Powerlifting, but to also be an official world record holder is an incredible feeling!"
"I am extremely proud to be in the Guinness World Records family."
Karenjeet can count on the continue support and love of her family, who supported her with every step of her record-breaking journey.
Today she is a successful female in a notoriously male-dominated sport, and the first British Sikh female to represent Great Britain in powerlifting. She also has a great family backing her up, and she built her in-house gym with the help of her dad!
But powerlifting isn't Karenjeet's only love: before dedicating herself to strengths sports, she competed in athletics for about 10 years, winning several contests in Warwickshire.
While in school, she built a reputation as the fastest girl to the point that often the boys didn't want to race her!
"I used to win the 100m by 40m clear," she recalls.
Martin Rees
He also likes audiobooks and taking his pet cat Amber out for a walk ("she behaves more like a dog than a cat!" he says).
Have you ever had a mentor?
I'd never skydived before, so an expert skydiver called Andy Godwin became my mentor and ultimately, I wouldn't have achieved the record without his insight and experience.
Who or what has inspired you in your life?
Jason Auld
The path wasn't always easy for Scottish unicyclist Jason Auld: "When I was at school, I was embarrassed to tell people I wanted to be a professional Extreme Unicyclist."
"I didn't want to say it partly because it's daft (it's ok, I know it's daft) but also because I didn't even know what that job looked like.
Imagine Shakespeare saying: 'I like plays but my true passion lies in Instagram reels'."
He always wanted to think differently and stand out from the crowd, finding his very own path (what he calls "option C") in a world where most people solely focus on option A and B thinking they have no other choice, but he always "feared being an outcast because of it".
Ninja warrior trainer, athlete and inspirational speaker, Jason went on to break (among many others) the record for heaviest single weight lifted by barbell overhead press while riding a unicycle.
Who or what has inspired you in your life?
I've always been inspired by those who choose not to run faster than the competition and instead seek to find a new route that no one considered.
Those brave enough to experiment in new ways, when everyone in their field is fixated on being the best at the old ones.
I'm most inspired by those who know we all lose but we only truly fail when we give up: those who don't consider success an outcome but a process that includes setbacks and losses.
Did you ever imagine when you were at school you would be a Guinness World Records title holder?
Not at all: I've never been a stand out.
I'm not special or gifted, and nothing has come naturally to me so the idea that I would be part of this incredible legacy seemed impossible.
But I never made it into the book because I'm special: I was never top of the class or first picked in PE.
Guinness World Records to me has never been exclusive or elitist, rather, it's a celebration of the truly amazing feats we're all capable of.
What are your hobbies?
I love Pro Wrestling.
Wrestlers require incredible athleticism to perform a choreographed fight but ultimately it's theatre, so storytelling is just an important as physicality.
I also love comic books and movies.
I work at a Ninja Warrior gym and my aim is to show others that if you love superhero movies, there's no reason why you should just be a spectator.
I've always been inspired by those who choose not to run faster than the competition and instead seek to find a new route that no one considered.
- Jason Auld
Lee Spencer
Lee Spencer entered the Guinness World Records annals when he completed the longest solo row by a physically disabled person, with 3,162 nautical miles (5,856 km; 3,639 miles).
Although he says that he "never imagined he would be a record holder," with determination and hard training, Lee rowed the Atlantic east to west from Portimao (Portugal) to Cayenne (French Guyana) in 60 days 16 hours 6 minutes, between 9 January and 11 March 2019.
When he's not out breaking records, he loves nature and wildlife.
Lee also loves playing football ("I’m better with one leg than I was with two," he says) and hill walking.
Because of his passion for music, you'll also spot him going to music festivals, and playing the guitar.
He is the first amputee – and first physically disabled person – to row an ocean solo, and also the fastest ever solo rower of any ability to cross from Europe to South America.
Have you ever had a mentor?
My mentor was an older boy who lived in my street and who took me under his wing. I had a difficult childhood, and Tony always wanted a younger brother.
He taught me about wildlife and we caught lizards, snakes and newts over waste ground together.
We’re still very good friends today.
Who has inspired you in your life?
I have two people who inspired me.
One is Michael Eavis, the organiser of the Glastonbury Festival, because he always kept doing what was the right thing, even when it wasn’t popular.
The second one is footballer Ian Wright, because he never gave up on his dream of playing professional football.
Why do you want to be a mentor?
Having the opportunity to inspire and help a young person (in a way that I wished I had) is a huge privilege.
What were you dreams and hopes when you were at school?
For as long as I can remember, my dream was to be a Royal Marines Commando.
When I was 13, I was told at a careers fair at school (and, later, at the careers office when I was 18) that I wasn’t what they were looking for.
At 22, I passed out as a Royal Marines Commando.
Do you have a life motto that helps you?
Dare to dream and if you don’t fail, you’re not dreaming big enough.
Victoria Evans
With a strong and powerful voice, Victoria completed her epic row and achieved the fastest female solo row across the Atlantic on the Trade Winds I route (open-class).
She prepared for four years to break this record, and conquered all challenges.
Her determination, mental skills and physical preparation allowed her to thrive while rowing solo in a tiny boat in the middle of the ocean.
Nothing can stop her!
Valentines Day 2022 - gifted incredibly big wind and waves from Mother Nature. Slightly different pace this year! #oceanrower#worldrecord#fastestfemalesolo#atlantic#oceanrowing#womeninsportpic.twitter.com/kXDFUrAmgg
— Sea Change Sport (@SeaChangeSport) February 14, 2023
Have you ever had a mentor?
I didn't have a particular mentor when I was growing up, but in the roles I had as a young professional we were frequently assigned mentors.
I found it to be helpful to have an ally that I could turn to for help and advice about matters you may not feel comfortable approaching other people about.
Who or what has inspired you in your life?
My family, particularly my Mum and my grandparents have been a big inspiration to me.
They always taught me that anything was possible.
In 2014, I also moved to Switzerland where I lived for four years: my group of sporty female friends there were a big inspiration to me in taking on the adventures I have since done.
Why do you want to be a mentor?
The main ones would be that we shouldn't limit our belief in what we are capable of.
Outside ocean rowing what are your hobbies?
Outside of ocean rowing, I love road cycling and hiking and I've just taken up tennis lessons.
What were you dreams and hopes when you were at school?
When I was at school I wanted to be a lawyer which I went on to become.
I think it's important not to become too focused just on academic goals at a young age however, and to have balance.
Did you ever imagine when you were at school you would be a Guinness World Records title holder?
Absolutely not!
Even as an adult it wasn't something I believed possible but over time and through taking on gradually bigger and bigger challenges you realise that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
Back yourself. We so often elect not to push ourselves for fear of failure but failure is essential on the path to success. The key is to try and to believe in yourself.
- Victoria Evans
