Gym owner Damien Rooney breaks weighted pull-up world record

Damien Rooney, a gym owner and former professional mixed martial artist living in Burren near Newry, has broken the record for the most pull-ups in one hour while carrying 20 lbs (approximately 9 kg) of weight. In the attempt held on June 1, 2026, Rooney completed 499 repetitions, surpassing the previous record of 495, and was officially recognized by Guinness World Records in September 2026.

Rooney, who previously fought under the nickname 'The Rage', began his record attempt in 2018. Throughout this process, he faced various injuries and unsuccessful attempts, eventually employing a specific training strategy consisting of two-minute work blocks and 30-second rest periods to reach his goal.

Following this achievement, Rooney has set new goals. It is stated that the athlete plans to attempt the 24-hour pull-up record in April 2027, aiming for 10,000 repetitions during that period. Additionally, he aims to break the unweighted pull-up record before that attempt.