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Hindustan Zinc Sets Two Guinness World Records at Deepest Underground Marathon

2025-11-25

Hindustan Zinc has created history by setting two Guinness World Records after its CEO Arun Misra and COO Kishore Kumar S. participated in the world’s deepest marathon held 1,120 metres below sea level at Boliden’s Garpenberg zinc mine in Sweden. The event, organised on 23 October 2025 by BecomingX, Boliden and the International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM), saw 57 runners from 18 countries complete 11 laps of a 3.84-km underground tunnel to finish the full marathon distance.

The feat established two global records — the Deepest Marathon (Individual) and the Deepest Underground Marathon Distance (Team) — marking Arun Misra as the first Indian to enter the Guinness record books for these categories. Participants faced extreme physical conditions, including high humidity, 30°C temperatures, gravel terrain and low visibility. The event also raised more than USD 1 million for the BecomingX Foundation and the Wild at Heart Foundation.

Arun Misra said the marathon demonstrated how modern mining has evolved to prioritise safety, technology and resilience even in challenging environments. ICMM CEO Rohitesh Dhawan highlighted that the air quality in the Garpenberg mine contains about 30 per cent more oxygen than at ground level, reflecting advancements in responsible mining. BecomingX CEO Paul Gurney described the achievement as a testament to human endurance and innovation.

Hindustan Zinc’s involvement aligns with its broader commitment to sustainable mining, fitness and community engagement. The company’s initiatives include the Vedanta Zinc City Half Marathon, the Zinc Football Academy, India’s first tech-driven girls’ football academy and the AIFF Zinc Blue Cubs League. Through these programmes, the company continues to promote wellness and grassroots sports development while strengthening global cooperation through ICMM.

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