A 22-year-old Japanese youth, Ryusei Yonee, has broken the Guinness World Record by sprinting 100 metres (328 feet) on all fours in just 14.55 seconds.

His remarkable performance was more than a full second faster than the previous record, instantly going viral on social media.

The feat was previously held by Japanese athlete Kenichi Ito, who clocked 18.58 seconds in 2008, and later by American runner Colin McClure, who improved it to 15.66 seconds in 2022.

Yonee, however, surpassed both by blending rigorous training with his long-time fascination with animal movement.

Speaking after his achievement, Yonee explained that since childhood, he had closely observed the way wild animals move and often mimicked them.

The turning point came when one of his teachers told him that animals can run faster on all fours than humans can on two legs — sparking his determination to master the skill.

To prepare, he trained on sand to build strength and balance, before transitioning to the track to refine his sprinting technique.

He credited his unique style to years of practice and studying natural animal locomotion.

Yonee said the record is not just a personal milestone but also a step toward popularising this unconventional sport worldwide.

He pledged to keep working hard and further promote running on all fours as a recognised discipline.