ER Doctor Runs World Record Mile While Dribbling 2 Balls

Michael Dodd wanted to impress his kids, so he decided to beat the internet stars they watch on YouTube.

The 41-year-old emergency room doctor from Lexington, Kentucky, set a Guinness World Record last November by running a mile in 8 minutes and 28 seconds while dribbling two basketballs. His wife Amanda and their four children cheered from the sidelines at a Nicholasville track as Dad made history.

The idea struck when Dodd watched a "Dude Perfect" video with his kids that featured world record attempts. "I told my kids, 'I could definitely break that record,'" he told Guinness World Records. "I played college basketball, and I run two or three times per week, so I knew this was a great opportunity to break a world record and become a hero in the eyes of my children."

Basketball runs deep in the Dodd family. His father coached college basketball, and when Michael was born, his parents photographed him with a basketball in his crib.

Breaking the record took serious practice and focus. Dodd found his rhythm by keeping a steady pace and alternating dribbles rather than bouncing both balls together.

He stumbled a few times during the run but recovered quickly. "I knew that a world record was on the line, so I had to recover quickly, keep calm, not panic and not lose my composure," he said.

Why This Inspires

Dodd shows that being a great parent sometimes means doing something extraordinary just to see your kids' faces light up. His pastor at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, David Prince, said the family will never forget watching Dad take on this challenge and win.

"His kids were so excited," Dodd said. "They were so proud to tell their friends that their dad was a world record holder."

The doctor's talents extend beyond the hospital and track. In 2020, he collaborated with artist Kathleen Rehner to publish a children's book called "The Ant and the Bear." He originally wrote the story in 2017 to help his oldest daughter adjust to sharing her parents with younger siblings.

When Dodd mentioned the book at church, Rehner offered to illustrate it even though she had never done it before. After a year and a half of work, she sent him the finished illustrations. "My jaw hit the floor when I saw what she had done because they were unbelievable," he said.

The Dodds are expecting their fifth child, which means one more fan to cheer on their record-holding dad.