For most gym-goers, knocking out a handful of pull-ups is enough to leave the arms burning and the grip screaming for mercy.
So the idea of doing them for 24 straight hours sounds almost impossible.
That’s exactly what makes what South Korean endurance athlete Oh Yohan achieved so staggering.
In a feat that borders on unbelievable, Yohan completed an eye-watering 11,707 pull-ups in a single 24-hour period, officially earning himself a Guinness World Record after the achievement was confirmed on 6 June, 2025.
The record has since been beaten by Enrique Zapata, who achieved 12,345.
To put Yohan’s achievement into perspective, that works out at almost eight pull-ups every minute for an entire day — no breaks long enough to properly recover, no room for error, and no slowing down if he wanted to stay on pace.
It’s the kind of challenge that tests far more than physical strength. Grip endurance, shoulder durability, mental resilience and sheer stubbornness all come into play when the body starts to fail.
And for Yohan, this wasn’t a random challenge or a social media stunt.
According to Guinness World Records, the roots of this record attempt stretch all the way back to 2019 during his military service.
Guinness World Records shared: “Oh Yohan’s record-breaking journey began in 2019 during his military service. Inspired by a former record holder yet challenged by rising competition, he pushed through doubts with unwavering support from his family, friends, and fellow soldiers. After years of training and enduring a demanding 24-hour challenge, he succeeded and proudly dedicated his result to his military unit, which shaped his discipline, strength, and spirit.”
That backstory makes the number even more significant.
Because Yohan didn’t just stop when he broke the record.
He stopped at 11,707 for a reason.
The final 707 was a tribute to the Republic of Korea 707th Special Mission Group, the elite military unit where he previously served.
Speaking in the comments of an Instagram post after the attempt, Yohan explained exactly why the number mattered.
“I served in the Republic of Korea 707th Special Mission Group,” he wrote. “To honour the number 707, which represents the unit I served in, I finished my pull-up challenge at 11,707 reps,” said Yohan.
It’s a detail that turns a brutal physical challenge into something much more personal.
And it wasn’t his first taste of the record books either.
Before this latest attempt, Yohan had already set a remarkable benchmark of 8,707 pull-ups, only to see that title snatched away less than a week later.
For many, that would’ve been enough to walk away.
Instead, it became fuel.
According to NDTV, he immediately began laying the groundwork for another shot at reclaiming the crown, although life briefly forced a pause when his wife was preparing to give birth to their second child.
That break didn’t derail the mission.
If anything, it seems to have sharpened it.
Years of preparation eventually led to this latest 24-hour grind — one that demanded not just elite conditioning but relentless consistency.
There’s no explosive sprint in a challenge like this.
No shortcuts.
Just repetition, pain, and the ability to keep moving when every muscle is begging you to stop.
Featured image credit: _ohyohan / Instagram / Guinness World Records / TikTok
