'Monkey Man' Breaks Four-Limbed Sprint Record

A Japanese man has been named the world's fastest man on four limbs by the Guinness World Records after running 100 metres in 17.47 seconds.

Kenichi Ito, 30, who is known affectionately as 'Monkey Man', has been training for nine years and bases his technique on primates' movements.

He has modelled his own style after the African Patas monkey.

"One day, I am certain that all sprinters will be running on all fours. That is my dream," he said.

At home or at work he moves mainly on all fours as part of his daily training.

His feat on Thursday broke his own record from 2008 of 18.58 seconds.

Guinness World Records judge Carlos Martinez, who witnessed the challenge, said: "More than one second faster is a huge improvement - that was all the thoughts that were crossing my mind as he was crossing the final line."

Mr Ito says he eventually hopes to beat Usain Bolt's 2009 world record of 9.58 seconds.