A month after etching her name into the record books, Rwandan golfer Melissa Akanigi Ishimwe is already seeing the ripple effects of her historic feat. Ishimwe, 23, on May 8, became the first Rwandan woman to complete an 18-hole golf course unassisted in under 55 minutes, clocking it in just 52 minutes on the 6,081-yard golf course at Kigali Golf Resort and Villas. And her performance earned her a place in the Guinness World Records. ALSO READ: History as Rwandan golfer Melissa Ishimwe sets Guinness World Record “Following the attempt, we submitted all the necessary evidence to Guinness World Records. I later received an official confirmation email acknowledging receipt of our submission. After a thorough review, they verified and confirmed that we had indeed set a new world record,” Ishimwe told Times Sport. “Once confirmation is granted, Guinness provides a link to request an official certificate, and I have already begun the documentation process. Receiving this approval signifies that the record has been formally recognized.” Guinness World Records gives successful applicants up to three months to claim their certificate. While the official paperwork is still in progress, the impact of the recognition is already being felt. Though the Guinness institution does not offer monetary rewards for record-breaking achievements, the exposure has proven invaluable. “Guinness doesn’t pay you when you break a record. The value lies in brand visibility and the partnerships it can unlock, especially with global brands like Nike, Adidas, Coca-Cola, and others they’ve worked with in the past,” Ishimwe said. Just weeks after the record was confirmed, Ishimwe and her team received six concrete partnership offers and are currently in discussions with at least four more. “These collaborations, are not just about endorsements, they’re about aligning with organisations that believe in sports development, youth empowerment, and gender equality. And we’re now focusing on building the right kind of more partnerships, ones that benefit both sides and drive long-term impact,” she said. Ishimwe’s vision goes beyond personal achievement. She is actively exploring collaborations with local institutions to inspire broader participation of women in golf and other sports. “The dream was never just about me it was about creating space for other young women dream bigger too,” she said. Ishimwe is just the third Rwandan to enter the Guinness World Book of Records after Eric Dusingizimana and Cathia Uwamahoro who entered the record books for the longest bat in cricket in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
