First Person to climb the tallest building in all 50 United States, James C. Wigginton sets world record

June 4, 2025

New York City, NY, United States--James C. Wigginton, a 76 year old Vietnam era Marine, climbed the 104 floors, 20226 stairs of the World Trade Center (formerly known as the Freedom Tower), in New York City, on June 1, 2025 completing a years long quest to set a new World Record as the First Person to climb the tallest building (in terms of stairs) in all 50 United States, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

"This has been a very long and complex process, including millions of stairs in training, and many injuries. I had suffered three injuries over the course of the last 5 weeks, leading up to this final climb, but as it was a race only scheduled once each year, I needed to complete it. I was only able to climb using my left leg, but still managed to finish and set the new World Record. So glad its over.," says James C. Wigginton during an exclusive interview (via email) for the World Record Academy..

"Although my wife passed away from thyroid cancer in 2013, she would be proud that I continue to achieve new World Records to help bring awareness and funding to the Punya Thyroid cancer Foundation, as well as Folds of Honor."

"I had been racing the stairs of buildings for many years before I realized I had completed the tallest building in multiple states, and noticed no one had ever completed all 50; that was when I decided to focus on that. After several hundred thousand miles , and sometimes a 15 hour day to do a 5 minute climb, it’s reached a successful conclusion.

"Due to the security nature of these climbs my options were limited. For 34 of the climbs I have either Go Pro video or, in most cases, I was limited to iphone pictures every 5-10 stairs (depending on the number of floors). In another 12 cases, they were organized and published races, and in the remaining 4, I have witnesses."

"I did not register with Guinness for this record. I chose to rely on the World record Academy.

"I have begun working with my SEAL teammates on a new World Record attempt for early next year. At the moment, we are keeping the details secret as we don’t want anyone to beat us to the attempt."

"“You do something big enough, and people will ask why,” said Wigginton. “Then you get to tell them.”

"For Jim, the “why” is personal. He lost his wife Nancy to thyroid cancer in 2013 after 46 years of marriage. In her honor, he launched the Punya Thyroid Cancer Foundation and has helped raise $6 million of a $10 million goal to help researchers extend the lives of Stage 4 thyroid cancer patients.

"That research—led by Drs. Megan Haymart and Frank Worden at the University of Michigan—has now helped more than 5,000 stage 4 thyroid cancer patients live five times longer than previously expected, and with a correspondingly higher quality of life."

He also climbs to raise awareness and support for Folds of Honor, an organization that provides scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled service members, and first responders.

"That mission is personal too: Wigginton was part of the first Red Cross team deployed to Ground Zero after 9/11.

“To finish this journey where so many heroes made the ultimate sacrifice—there’s no more meaningful place,” Wigginton said.

"Though not a runner by trade, Wigginton holds the world record for fastest time to climb or descend 1 million stairs, and has made a name for himself scaling skyscrapers—often taking 15-hour travel days for a five-minute climb.

"He has a photo in front of every building he’s climbed in all 50 states, culminating with his final climb in the Freedom Tower.