Sarsenbay Kotyrashov, a 76-year-old blacksmith from Kazakhstan, is preparing to walk across eight US states in 2027. The craftsman, who makes objects from iron, plans to travel from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast. His wider goal is to enter Guinness World Records by walking more than 40,000 kilometers after the age of 75.
His first long-distance journey began in 2022, when he walked across Kazakhstan. Starting in his home region of Ulytau, he covered 8,000 kilometers in six months and finished in Aktau, beside the Caspian Sea. He later walked through Russia and the Caucasus to Turkey, reaching Istanbul. Another journey took him through Russia and Mongolia to China, where he visited Beijing and the Great Wall.
In 2026, Kotyrashov walked through five European countries, covering about 3,000 kilometers in 53 days. He started in Belgrade and continued through Hungary, Austria, and Germany before reaching Paris. Despite the difficult moments on his travels, he remains eager to continue. He says he does not consider himself old.
