Former MMA Fighter Sets Guinness World Record for Chin-Ups

Former mixed martial artist Damien Rooney has officially secured a Guinness World Record title for performing the most chin-ups in one hour while wearing a 20lb weight. Rooney, from Burren, Northern Ireland, completed 499 repetitions, exceeding the previous record of 495.

Rooney, who now owns and operates his own gym, plans to pursue further record attempts. His next goal is to challenge the 24-hour chin-up record, an endeavor that could require approximately 10,000 repetitions. He aims to attempt this feat in April 2027.

A chin-up is distinguished from a pull-up by the hand orientation: palms face the individual during a chin-up, engaging the biceps more intensely, whereas palms face outward for pull-ups, primarily targeting the latissimus dorsi muscles.

Rooney's background in professional mixed martial arts, where he competed under the name "The Rage," fueled his interest in strength and conditioning, ultimately leading him to pursue Guinness World Records. He previously attempted the 24-hour chin-up record in 2018 but faced setbacks due to injuries, including torn muscles and heat exhaustion.

Comparing the intensity of his record attempts to his fighting career, Rooney stated, "It is pretty extreme. The constant overload on the body. But as painful as this is, its very localised and very much in your control – but a really rough fight? It doesn't compare. It's night and day."

After his prior attempts, Rooney adjusted his training strategy, focusing on shorter, weighted challenges. He described his technique for the one-hour record as a cyclical approach, maximizing both work and recovery periods within two-minute blocks, each including 30 seconds of rest. This method prevents rapid fatigue, which he noted can quickly overwhelm the body during intense exertion.

Before attempting the 24-hour record again, Rooney will first target the one-hour, unweighted chin-up record, which currently stands at approximately 1,010 repetitions.

The verification process for Guinness World Records is rigorous, with Rooney's achievement confirmed in September, about 20 weeks after his attempt on June 1. The organization meticulously reviews submitted video evidence from multiple angles to ensure the authenticity of each record.