Guinness World Record-holding acrobatic dunk team thrills young fans with
never-seen-before high-flying slam dunks and stunts on their debut at SIBF

Sharjah, November 10, 2025

Basketball met theatre and gymnastics in a dazzling display of daredevilry at the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) as the Dunking Devils, a world champion acrobatic basketball team from Slovenia – wowed audiences with a high-flying performance of flips, spins, and slam dunks.

Leaping from giant trampolines, twin springboards and a giant swing, the international troupe of five – Gal Banko, Martin Samec, Tomi Klemenc, Jan Žnidaršič and Jaka Komlos kept everyone on the edge. Inspired by the Harlem Globetrotters, the American exhibition team known for blending athleticism, theatre and comedy, they delivered a high-energy spectacle that ended with a daring leap over a “wall of kids,” drawing cheers and gasps from the crowd.

“We absolutely loved the warmth and love we got from the crowd,” said Jan Žnidaršič, leader of the quintet, moments after their debut performance at the SIBF. “We started nearly 15 years ago as basketball enthusiasts – not professional players, but today we call ourselves acrobats mixing gymnastics with sport. Our style of performing is about having control over danger. We want the audience to feel that same rush of adrenaline, safely.”

For young basketball fans, the experience was unforgettable.

“I loved it when they jumped over the kids,” said 11-year-old Emirati student Sultan Badr, an LA Lakers fan who idolises the team’s iconic all-time leading NBA scorer Le Bron James. “It was crazy – they flew so high.”

Meanwhile, for his friend Khalifa Omar, 12, a fan of NBA team Golden State Warriors’ point guard Steph Curry, it was a ‘first-of-its-kind experience’. “They made basketball look like magic. They were absolutely phenomenal. I haven’t seen someone dunk like this.”

The performers, two-time world champions and Guinness World Record holders, are staging three shows during this SIBF that is set to feature over 1,200 cultural and artistic events including a diverse range of shows, acts and activities held over 12 days until November 16.

-ENDS-