Norwegian man with cerebral palsy does incredible pull up stunts in his wheelchair

Every week, Harald Riise estimates he does anywhere between 500 to 1,000 pull ups, simply to get around: to get out of bed, to climb in and out of vehicles, and to reach for far-away items. 

While others might see this as exhausting, Harald finds it freeing – not only have his arms brought him independence, but they also helped the Norwegian wheelchair user become the record breaking stuntman known as "Viking Wheels".

“What other people do with their legs, I have to do with my arms,” Harald said. “So the pull up movement is my primary way of getting around, and it’s also my greatest passion.”

Harald’s passion for pull ups led him to compete for the record title for most pull ups in a wheelchair in one minute (male), which he did so in Bærum, Norway, on 18 December 2024. Alongside a supportive crowd, Harald took the title after completing an incredible 25 pull ups in 60 seconds – while still strapped to his chair. While this athletic achievement is amazing, it was a natural progression for the Norwegian, who has already climbed to great heights in his wheelchair.

No, really, we mean great heights – Harald has climbed a mountain, done pull ups under a hovering helicopter, worked out on top of a speeding truck, and more – all in his chair.

Harald has cerebral palsy and first became interested in fitness when he got his own handcycle at age 12 – and ever since then he’s been working to improve his own health while inspiring others. Since then, he’s expanded his workout routine to include everything from arm workouts to swimming. 

In 2017, he started his first big stunt – climbing the Oxer Tower in Oslo, Norway. He ascended the 72 m (236 ft) tall building by pulling himself (and his chair) up a rope level system attached to the top of the tower.

Since then, he’s done wheelchair pull ups while attached to the top of a truck trailer moving 60 kph (37 mph), while climbing a mountain, and while suspended under a hovering helicopter. He says he does all of this to show how much is possible and how high you can reach, no matter what life has given you.

“I do my Viking Wheels projects to give myself a proper challenge, and also a bit of adventure,” he said. “And hopefully to inspire people to follow their dreams, no matter what life has in store for them.”

In 2020, Harald achieved his first Guinness World Records title for longest duration in the dead hang position (male), for a total of 16 min 3 sec. To train for that record, he had to create a workout routine that was a mix of "fixed intervals" of hanging time and one-rep max sessions, as well as some technical grip strength exercises.

And although his record has since been broken, the training period for his first inspired him so much that he wanted to attempt another. 

“I decided to take on this record because of my passion for pull ups and because achieving a Guinness World Records title is for me the ultimate personal challenge,” he said. “I’ve exercised my upper body for 10 hours a week for some time now. Preparing for this attempt has, in many ways, been a lifelong process.”

Although Harald was nervous on the day of the attempt, he was also confident in his personal strength and motivation. He arrived early at the local Jiu Jitsu gym to go over the workout and camera set ups for his attempt, and debriefed with his supporters and chalked his hands before securely attaching his hands to the bar. Then, still strapped to his chair, he began to lift himself upwards.

20 sets later, then a brief multi-second break, then a few more sets later, and Harald was complete. He officially took home the record title for most pull ups after beating the prior record of 10 set by Adnan Almousa Alfermli (Syria), in Tenerife, Spain, on 23 November 2023.

“In a word – it feels great,” said Harald. “I’m very inspired and hungry for more!”