Jumber Lezhava - To the moon by bicycle

Georgian endurance athlete, Guinness World Record holder, world cyclist, author, and global traveler.

Born: July 23, 1939
Died: July 25, 2014
Nationality: Georgian

Early Life and Education

Jumber Lezhava was born in Tbilisi, Georgia. He graduated from Tbilisi Polytechnic Institute in 1966 as an electrical engineer. His early professional life began in engineering before he devoted himself to endurance training and global exploration.

Health Crisis and Recovery

In 1986, Lezhava survived a life-threatening case of acute intestinal gangrene. After several surgeries and a long recovery, he rebuilt his physical strength through disciplined training, ultimately achieving elite endurance performance.

Guinness World Records

His recovery led to multiple Guinness World Records in push-ups:

• 157 push-ups in 1 minute
• 5,011 push-ups in 1 hour
• 19,376 push-ups in 6 hours
• 34,955 push-ups in 12 hours
• 44,141 push-ups in 24 hours
• 1,720,000 push-ups in 100 days
• 4,800,000 push-ups in 1 year

Cycling Around the World

At the age of 54, Lezhava began a solo bicycle journey around the world in 1993. The expedition lasted more than a decade and covered every continent.

• Travel duration: 3,333 days
• Distance cycled: 264,000 km
• Total distance traveled: over 500,000 km
• Countries visited: 234
• Continents: all, including two Antarctic expeditions

Author and Filmmaker

Lezhava documented his experiences in the book Traveller’s Notes, sharing lessons on survival, discipline, and humanity. His journey was later captured in the documentary film To the Moon by Bicycle.

Awards and Recognition

• UNESCO Athlete of the World 1999
• Traveler-Diplomat of Georgia 1993
• Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali First Degree 2003
• Person of the Year in Georgia 2002

Legacy

Jumber Lezhava passed away on July 25, 2014. He remains a symbol of resilience, discipline, and limitless human potential.

In Georgia, he is remembered as The King of Travelers.