Steven practices his cup-stacking skills.

By Ted Regencia

Chicago, IL–Don’t blink, or else you’ll miss it.

That’s how fast Steven Purugganan could stack his cups. He moves in fast-forward mode on real time. So fast he smashed his own Guiness Book world record as the fastest cup stacker, at the 2008 World Sports Stacking Championships in Denver, Colorado last April.

Steven set a record-breaking 6.21 seconds in the “Cycle Stack” category, a solid improvement from his previous world record of 7.23 seconds, which he set only last October 2007 in New York. He beat over a thousand competitors many of whom are older and much more experienced.

Prior to the Denver championship, Steven already broke his original record twice, just last February (6.65 seconds) and March (6.52 seconds).

Not only that, he also holds two other world records in the “3-6-3″ (2.34 seconds) and “3-3-3″ (1.86 seconds) individual categories. The numbers refer to the pieces of cups involved in the routine. “Cycle Stack” is a more complicated combination of routines involving 12 cups.

Sports stacking, popularly known as cup stacking is a relatively new phenomenon. To play the game, each competitor is required to stack and unstack specially-designed plastic cups in pre-determined sequences. The fastest competitor wins. Contestants can work with a team or compete individually.

The game started in the 1980s, but attained a more mainstream appeal in 2001 when organizers formed the World Sport Stacking Association, the body, which governs the competition. According to the organization, it is now the “fastest growing sport.” Now ESPN regularly covers its annual championship matches.

Mini-celebrity
Even before this latest record, Steven was already launched in the spotlight when he was featured last January in the NBC prime-time special, “Guiness Book of World Records: Top 100,” where he was ranked No. 72 as the most fascinating world record-holder.

After setting his newest record, he was featured on ESPN’s “Top 9 Play of the Day” segment. In his town of Longmeadow, where his family moved from Chicago, he is being treated like a mini-celebrity, and sought after by different media organizations.

Recently, local politicians from Massachusetts welcomed him to the State House to witness his stacking prowess, according to CBS station WBZ-TV in Boston.

It was only in late 2006, when Steven and his older brothers Andrew and Brian were drawn into cup stacking, while watching ESPN. Sensing their interest of the game, their mother Victoria bought them a cup stacking set for $30.

Only 18 months after, the Purugganan household headed by their father, Dan, had a certified champion in their midst. “Well worth it [$30]!,” Steven’s mom jokingly quipped in one radio interview.

Asked by this reporter whether he feels pressure now that he is the champion, Steven sheepishly said, “Not really because my time is really fast and not many people can get that time.”

Steven trains every day for an hour. He also devotes time for his studies, as well as other extra-curricular activities like baseball, soccer, basketball and golf.

Steven with mom Victoria, grandpa Ding Salvador, and grandma Lourdes.

McDonald’s endorser
Because of his achievements, the fast-food giant McDonald’s offered Steven to star in its new television commercial.

Last May 15, accompanied by his mom, Victoria, Steven flew in from Boston to Chicago to shoot the commercial. The McDonald’s headquarters is based in the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates.

“They knew of Steven’s world record because of the website and his YouTube videos. They contacted people out in Denver and asked, ‘Do you think Steven would be interested to coming over to Chicago for a McDonalds commercial,” a visibly excited Mrs. Purugganan recounted. “They called me and we said, Yes!”

“I was excited because I also knew it’s my hometown, so I was thinking that we can visit all our best friends and cousins,” Steven said. “I’m just excited to shoot my first commercial.”

Steven’s family from the maternal side are from Manila. His father Dan was born in the US but grew up in Manila as well. Most of their family members are now based in the Chicago area.

Steven’s McDonald’s commercial will be aired in July or August.

Meanwhile, Ms. Purugganan said that the sport will soon be introduced in the Philippines. “Watch out, it’s coming to the Philippines,” she said. She is hoping that the television commercial will boost awareness of the game.

Year 2008 is the sixth year the World Sport Stacking Association has sanctioned the World Sport Stacking Championships.

Source: Ted Regencia Reports