Egyptian Wrestler Ashraf Mahrous Attempts Jaw-Dropping Feat by Pulling Ship With His Teeth

Published: September-28-2025, 09:25 EDT

An Egyptian strongman known for defying the limits of human strength has attempted another astonishing challenge—pulling a 700-ton ship across the waters of the Red Sea using only his teeth. Ashraf Mahrous, nicknamed “Kabonga,” performed the feat in Hurghada on Saturday, aiming to secure yet another Guinness World Record and further cement his status as Egypt’s most celebrated power athlete.

A New Record Attempt on the Red Sea

The event unfolded before a crowd of onlookers on the shore of Hurghada, a popular Red Sea resort city. Mahrous first pulled a 700-ton ship and then, to confirm his determination, managed to move two vessels with a combined weight of about 1,150 tons.

“I pulled them both, thanks to God, to prove to my friends and the whole world that God blessed me by being the strongest man in the world,” Mahrous told the Associated Press after his attempt.

The current Guinness World Record for pulling a ship with teeth stands at 614 tons, set in 2018. Mahrous has submitted video and photographic evidence of his performance to Guinness officials for evaluation.

A Life of Extraordinary Strength

Mahrous, 44, grew up in the port city of Ismailia and quickly gained a reputation for his physical power. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 341 pounds, he recalls demonstrating unusual strength from childhood. By the age of nine, after his father lost work in Iraq, he was already lifting heavy loads for neighbors to earn money.

As a boy, he could carry multiple gas cylinders at once on a wheelbarrow and sometimes lifted his friends for fun. In one incident, he accidentally broke a friend’s arm during play, highlighting the raw force he possessed even before professional training.

His interest in athletics expanded to kung fu, kickboxing, and wrestling. Eventually, he established a wrestling team in Cairo and pursued increasingly ambitious strength challenges.

Rituals, Training, and Diet

Mahrous attributes his success not only to rigorous training but also to what he describes as a “spiritual connection” with the objects he pulls. Before each event, he talks to the object, treating it as part of his own body. “It’s important for me to treat the object that I will pull as part of my body that moves along with my heartbeat,” he explained.

To prepare for the Hurghada challenge, Mahrous followed a demanding diet of protein and iron-rich foods. Each day, he consumed a dozen eggs, two whole chickens, and 11 pounds of fish, supported by three two-hour training sessions. He avoids supplements, relying instead on food, sleep, and discipline.

Despite the extreme strain placed on his jaw, Mahrous is not concerned about dental health. He uses a miswak, a traditional twig widely used in the Middle East and known for antibacterial properties, rather than modern dentistry. A mouthguard offers protection during his record attempts.

Record-Breaking Career

This was not Mahrous’ first extraordinary feat. In March 2025, Guinness World Records officially recognized him for pulling a 279-ton train nearly 33 feet using a rope clenched in his teeth. On the same occasion, he received two additional certificates: one for pulling the heaviest locomotive and another for the fastest 100-meter road vehicle pull.

His Guinness journey began in June 2021, when he pulled a 15,730-kilogram truck with his teeth. In February 2024, he set another record by cracking and consuming 11 raw eggs in just 30 seconds.

Six years earlier, in a separate but less publicized effort, Mahrous pulled a 4,000-ton ship strapped to his shoulders over a 30-meter stretch of water—a feat captured on video after two grueling hours.

National Fame and Global Aspirations

Mahrous is now one of Egypt’s most recognizable figures. Children chase him in the streets, calling him the “strong man.” His feats have made him a symbol of determination and resilience, and he currently serves as president of the Egyptian Federation for Professional Wrestlers.

His ambitions, however, extend far beyond Egypt’s borders. He has announced plans to request government permission to pull a 263,000-ton submarine. Even more remarkably, he dreams of one day pulling an aircraft using only his eyelid muscles—an idea that underscores both his daring and his pursuit of records previously unimaginable.

Blending Tradition and Modern Recognition

Mahrous credits his achievements to a blend of cultural tradition, faith, and relentless training. While some athletes rely on advanced equipment and modern supplements, he adheres to a lifestyle rooted in simple food, spiritual belief, and the discipline of a wrestler.

Each record attempt strengthens his connection with Egypt’s cultural heritage of physical endurance, while simultaneously placing him on the global stage through Guinness World Records recognition.

Looking Ahead

As Guinness World Records reviews his latest submission, Mahrous continues training for future feats. Whether pulling submarines, planes, or locomotives, he insists that his journey is not about personal glory alone but also about representing Egypt to the world.

For now, the man known as “Kabonga” stands as a reminder of human potential—an athlete whose jaw and willpower have made him a symbol of resilience far beyond the shores of the Red Sea.

Source: AP News – Popular Egyptian ‘strong man’ goes for another jaw-dropping challenge: Pulling a ship with his teeth