The unparalleled feat was achieved from Sept 30 in four different cities where he dashed up a total of 4,933 steps, setting three course records.

Yesterday, he ran with a mild fever and cracked the course record for the Tunnel to Towers tower climb in Tampa, Florida, by a massive 65 seconds.

The second-placed runner in the race up 39 floors (861 steps) was one minute and 27 seconds behind him.

Wai Ching came into the 384-field a tired man and left burnt-out.

“I am exhausted. Four lung-busting tower races can take a toll on the strongest,” said the 28-year old, who is ranked World No 1 in tower running.

Last Thursday, he successfully defended his Empire State Building Run-Up title in New York after having finished first at the US Bank Tower in Los Angeles on Sept 30 and Seattle’s Space Needle tower on Oct 2.

Wai Ching said he never felt such pride and hoped tower running will no longer be viewed as a minority sport in Malaysia.

He said interest in the sport in Malaysia was growing and hoped tower running would be recognised as a sport at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games in 2027. He added that the Merdeka 118 tower, the world’s second tallest building, will be an ideal venue.

Malaysia Towerrunning Association president Ravinder Singh praised Wai Ching for his courage and heroism.