Man sets world record by squatting 26,000 times in 24 hours

A man in Illinois just set a world record by squatting (lowering the hips and then standing up) 26,100 times in 24 hours.

The record was set by Tony Piraino of Decatur. He started squatting at 5am on April 5 and finished at 5am on April 6 . He beat the world record set by Joe Reverdes, who lives in Rhode Island, in 2020 with 25,000 squats.

To ensure he has enough endurance and energy to complete his goals, Piraino rests 30 seconds after every 22 squats, resting longer every few hundred reps. Before doing the challenge, he also drank a lot of energy drinks and ate snacks rich in carbohydrates. In the middle of a squat set, Piraino shared that he felt tired and thought he would give up. However, he still tried to complete the challenge, and in the end, the results exceeded his expectations.

Tony Piraino not only broke the previous record of 25,000 squats, he also surpassed his goal of 26,000 squats. In the near future, his record will be officially confirmed by Guinness World Records.

Tony Piraino in the process of setting the squat record. (Photo: Tony Piraino).

Responding to local media, he said he was inspired by athlete David Hoggins, who set a world record in 2013 by doing 4,030 pull-ups in 17 hours and 45 minutes. Since then, he read Goggins' book Can't Hurt Me and decided to push himself to the limit.

Squat is a combination exercise that involves the core (core muscle group located in the center of the body) , quadriceps and glutes to improve balance and increase strength. This exercise also helps maintain lower body strength, stabilizes the muscles around the spine and reduces the risk of lower back pain.

The practitioner stands with his feet shoulder-width apart and arms straight out in front of him. Slowly bend your knees down into a sitting position, pay attention to keeping your back straight, your thighs perpendicular to your toes and maintain the position for 5 seconds.