Brentford star praised for staunch defence of 'Hardest Geezer' Russ Cook

Brentford striker Neal Maupay has been praised online for voicing his support of 'Hardest Geezer' Russ Cook after the athlete completed his breathtaking challenge of running from the most southern to the most northern point of Africa this week.

Cook, from Worthing, finished his 352-day run from South Africa to Tunisia on Sunday, travelling nearly 16,000 kilometres on foot. The journey was followed by thousands of people online as the runner shared regular updates including a kidnapping in Congo when coming across a gang armed with machetes.

The Hardest Geezer's achievement has come under fire from Danish ultrarunner Jesper Keen Olsen. The 52-year-old has claimed that he is the first to run the length of the continent, having completed the feat in 2010.

Olsen ran from Egypt to South Africa between 2008 and 2010. He said: "For me, it's not so much about whether I'm the first or second or what have you, because obviously, for us, the main thing is the runs around the world.

"It's much more important that you keep the honour than whether you are number one, two or three. However, as far as I understand, he's definitely the fastest."

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The claims have put a slight dampener on Cook's achievements. However, the Hardest Geezer set off from the southernmost point of South Africa in Cape Agulhas and finished further north than Mr Olsen - Sky News reports that Cook ran an extra 2,000 miles.

A number of sportsmen have shown their support of Cook, who is a Brighton fan, including former Seagulls star and current Brentford man Maupay. The striker took to X and wrote: "Less than 24 hours after this man finishes running the full length of Africa. Already the English press are trying to bring him down."

The message has been seen by nearly four million people with social media users praising Maupay as a 'man of the people', 'GOAT' and a 'real one'. Another praised Maupay and said: "Winds up the right fanbases in England and points out the British media."

Speaking to Good Morning Britain about Olsen's claims, the Hardest Geezer said: "I haven't heard anything about it to be fair. But there's plenty of people before me who have done lots of big runs and kudos to all of them because they're big challenges, so nothing but respect really."