British ultra-endurance athlete William Goodge says he has completed the fastest run across the width of Australia, covering an astonishing 3,800 kilometres in just 35 days. The 31-year-old began his journey on 15 April at Perth's Cottesloe Beach and crossed the finish line at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach on Monday afternoon, with his father beside him.

Goodge, who hails from Bedfordshire, England, reportedly ran approximately 100 kilometres—or two-and-a-half marathons—every single day. His feat is now under review by Guinness World Records, which currently recognises Chris Turnbull’s 39-day run across the continent in 2023 as the record-holder. Australian runner Nedd Brockmann previously completed the same journey in 47 days in 2022.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast a day after his finish, Goodge called the run “the toughest thing I’ve ever done.” The challenge tested him physically and mentally, with setbacks that included a dust storm, severe foot injuries, hallucinations, and the loss of several toenails. He described the early days of the trek as especially brutal and referred to the Nullarbor Plain—a vast, barren stretch of desert—as "unforgiving."

Despite the suffering, Goodge said he now feels “very comfortable,” and credited his late mother, Amanda, for inspiring his determination. Goodge began running marathons following her death from cancer in 2018. This latest challenge was dedicated to her memory and raised funds for cancer charities in the UK, the US, and Australia.

Moments after finishing his run, he placed a bouquet of flowers on the sands of Bondi Beach in tribute. “She was the most special person in my life,” he told Guardian Australia, adding, “she would be proud of everything I’ve done—though she’d also be concerned.”

Goodge said the memory of his mother’s strength during her cancer battle helped him push through the hardest moments of the journey. “In those tough times, I think about her and how she supported me,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald. “I feel like she’s there with me a lot of the time.”

Throughout the journey, he witnessed much of Australia’s distinct landscape and wildlife—many of which, he noted, were tragically seen as roadkill.

While Goodge's achievement has been widely celebrated, some in the running community have raised questions about the accuracy of data used to track his performance. Concerns were expressed over metrics like speed and heart rate. His agent, however, told Canadian Running magazine that Goodge “stands by his record keeping and asserts that he is taking every single step.”

Goodge also claims the title of fastest British man to run across the United States, completing the route from Los Angeles to New York in 55 days.

The world now watches as Guinness World Records evaluates his latest claim—one marked by determination, loss, and an unbreakable will.