Enrique Zapata, the Mexican strongman and biohacker, started 2026 by making history. He broke all records on January 31, 2026, by completing the most pull-ups in 24 hours.

On March 24, the official Instagram account of Guinness World Records posted this by sharing a montage of images of Zapata and a short clip from the record day.

“Most pull-ups in 24 hours (male) 💪 12,345 by Enrique Zapata 🇲🇽 @ez.biohacker”.

According to the post, the biohacker trained for more than five years to set this record.

Speaking about the event, Zapata admitted, “It took discipline, belief, and an extraordinary team.”

He also dedicated the record to the team, saying, “The record is dedicated to my team: my wife, Mariana; Humberto, my physiotherapist and friend; Alex and David, my mindset coaches; Rosendo; Jorge; and everyone who stood by me during the hardest moments … This record is about perseverance over time. If I can do this, everyone can.”

Before Zapata, the highest pull-up record was held by Lennert Schots, a Belgian athlete who recorded 11,900 pull-ups. And for Zapata, it is his 3rd pull-up crown, after conquering:

• Most pull-ups, 4,949 in 8 hours
• Most male pull-ups, 7,100 in 12 hours.

However, these records have now been overtaken. For instance, the first record has been overtaken by David McCarthy with 5,450 pull-ups, and the 2nd record has been overtaken by Rémi Girard with 7,300.

Zapata has made history, but he was not always fit and struggled with his weight.

Enrique Zapata Opened Up About Being Overweight

Zapata struggled with being overweight and hypertension. However, after he started reading the book “Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins, his perspective changed.

“That got me deep. The world is for the bold,” he explained on the Tom Rowland Podcast last year. “You need two things: ability and courage.”

After that, Zapata announced his plan to his family and friends to set a pull-up record.

In an Instagram post, he also motivated his followers with the statement, “My story is one of transformation, overcoming, and a single trial…If it doesn’t break the laws of physics, it’s possible…and it’s possible for you.”

During the podcast, he revealed the strategies he followed to set the record for 24-hour pull-ups, including:

• Nasal breathing to enhance oxygen uptake
• Cooling gels for the palms
• Worked on progressive overload exercises
• Consumed a mix of amino acids and electrolytes.

So, the journey of setting world records was not easy for Zapata; however, his discipline and consistency helped him succeed.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore