Damien Rooney sets new chin-up world record with 499 reps

Damien Rooney, a former mixed martial artist from County Down, has achieved the Guinness World Record for most chin-ups in an hour, completing 499 repetitions while wearing a 20-pound weight. This accomplishment surpasses the previous record of 495. Rooney, who operates a gym, aims to tackle the 24-hour record, which could involve up to 10,000 reps, after attempting the one-hour unweighted record next. His journey toward this achievement began in 2018, with several setbacks due to injuries and heat exhaustion. After recalibrating his training for this record attempt, he received confirmation from Guinness in September 2026, months after his June 1 achievement.

• 5:19 AMYahoo Sports — Chin-up champion secures Guinness World Record title