STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- When Ryan Tchoungoua posted a video on Instagram, showing him jumping over a lifeguard and diving into a Staten Island pool, he expected it to get a couple hundred likes and a few comments.
Instead, the 22-year-old athlete was bombarded with attention from media outlets, including AOL, Worldstar Hip Hop and ESPN, shortly after the video went up on social media.
“It was ridiculous, oh my goodness,” the College of Staten Island student gushed after his video passed 240,000 views on Instagram. “Getting that kind of attention was unexpected and I was skyrocketing in followers.”
The video was taken at the Children’s Aid Society’s Goodhue Center summer day camp after campers dared Tchoungoua to pull off the leap. Never one to pass up a challenge, the New Brighton resident made the jump in one shot.
He resigned from his position at the camp after the video gained traction, fearing he would get in trouble for the stunt. But the attention has landed him other things, like on the Global Glam NYC runway in Times Square as part of New York Fashion Week.
Ryan Tchoungoua of New Brighton leaped over a Staten Island lifeguard on video and gained national attention for it. (Courtesy of Ryan Tchoungoua)
NOT HIS FIRST LEAP OF FAITH
Tchoungoua has been documenting his over-the-top stunts since 2016, using social media to promote fitness and the sports he plays.
While he currently studies biology at the College of Staten Island, Tchoungoua played basketball and ran track and field while a student at Michael J. Petrides High School.
The Staten Island athlete says his leaping ability is something he’s “always been able to do.”
“At the end of the day, I just like to jump,” Tchoungoua said. “I want my videos to create a community of positive people and remind them to stay healthy.”
For more gravity-defying content, follow @ryan.tchoungoua on Instagram.
Ryan Tchoungoua of New Brighton leaped over a Staten Island lifeguard on video and gained national attention for it. (Courtesy of Ryan Tchoungoua)