“Lunge King” Austin Head crushes two new fitness records during Pride Month fundraiser
Pushing through the pain, American athlete Austin Head claimed two new Guinness World Records titles yesterday, as part of a leg-burning and heartwarming fundraiser for Pride Month.
Taking the titles for the most lunges with a 20 lb pack in one minute and three minutes, the competitor spent almost an entire year preparing to double his amount of records. And surrounded by a crowd of enthusiastic supporters at the Manhattan waterfront in New York City, New York, all his hard work paid off – as he completed 71 and 200 lunges, respectively.
Making his accomplishment all the sweeter was the fact that he did it for charity – particularly Broadway Cares, an organization dedicated to helping people across the country receive lifesaving medications, health care, nutritious meals, counselling and emergency financial assistance.
As a proud gay man who married his husband last May, Austin was determined to channel his strength into support for his people, and through his efforts he raised $3,224 (£2,400) for the organization.
“This year’s record attempts are all about community,” said Austin to GWR. “Over the years, I’ve built an incredible community of people in NYC who have supported me through every challenge, and I wanted to create an event that brought everyone together.
“With Pride Month as the backdrop, it felt like the perfect opportunity to celebrate, connect, and inspire others,” he continued. “And what better way to kick off that celebration than by attempting two new Guinness World Records titles?”
In all, these are the third and fourth records taken by Austin, who professionally works as a fitness coach at Lifetime in NYC.
He first found fame in March 2024, after claiming two records for the farthest distance travelled by lunge in one hour and the most lunges in an hour (male). Austin completed the initial challenge after lunging 2.14 mi (3.45 km) down the waterfront in Brooklyn, and smashed the second with an impressive total of 2,825 lunges in just 60 minutes.
“Breaking my first two Guinness World Records titles has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” he said. “Since then, I’ve had opportunities to share my story on national television, radio shows across the country, and even be featured by CBS during Guinness World Records’ 70th anniversary celebration.
“Seeing my name in the 2025 Guinness World Records book was truly surreal, and an honour I’ll never forget.”
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Naturally, then, it came as no surprise that his prior success motivated him to try these new records.
For almost 12 months, he worked on building his short-term stamina, preparing to take on titles that would require speed instead of endurance.
“These new attempts are completely different,” he explained. “They’re all about speed, power, and precision. My training has shifted significantly to focus on explosive movement, sprint work, and power development.”
Austin also became much more intentional with his nutrition and recovery, considering that every small detail can make a difference when performing at the highest level.
“The physical training is important, but I’ve learned that records are won long before you step on to the competition floor,” he continued.
However, he says that the hardest part of the challenge was undoubtedly overcoming the mental block. Over the last year, he’s spent as much time training his mind as his body, saying that the real pressure doesn’t come on the day of the event – rather, it’s showing up for yourself even when nobody else is watching.
“I’ve become obsessed with the idea of accessing 100% of my potential, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally,” he said. “Every workout is an opportunity to practise discipline, confidence, and staying present under pressure.”
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that we’re all capable of far more than we think. Most people never get close to discovering their true potential because they stop when things become uncomfortable. I’ve learned that discomfort is often where growth begins.
Finally, on 14 June he was ready to take on the challenge. Accompanied by his family from Texas, his in-laws from Maine, and a giant group of supportive New Yorkers – as well as Guinness World Records Adjudicator Andy Glass – Austin arrived at Pier 84 in Manhattan, ready to lunge for his life.
And while strapping on the 20 lb (9 kg) pack, he warmed up his body before settling his mind on the task at hand.
Admittedly he was nervous about attempting the three minute record, so he took on the one minute title first – crouching his way across the pier step-by-step, while the Adjudicator kept a careful eye on his form.
Secondly, he took on the three minute title, lunging his way across the pavement with a steadily increasing pace.
Yet despite the intense heat, Austin’s determination shone through – and the Adjudicator was proud to announce that he officially finished 71 and 200 lunges, respectively. In his first attempt, Austin smashed the previous record by five lunges with an impressive rate of 1.18 lunges per second, and in the following attempt he overtook the prior record by a total of 22.
And as his audience cheered and he accepted his certificates, Austin was moved by all the support he received from his community – saying that everyone coming together to celebrate Pride and his records was the cherry on top of a tremendous achievement.
“These record attempts have taught me that confidence isn’t something you’re born with, it’s something you build through keeping promises to yourself,” he said. “Every early morning, every difficult workout, and every sacrifice becomes evidence that you’re capable of more.”
“I believe every person has a version of themselves they’re capable of becoming,” he continued.
“My advice is simple: if you want to be the best in the world at something, you have to be willing to do what no one else is willing to do. Records aren’t built on motivation alone, they’re built on consistency, discipline, and showing up on the days when nobody is watching.
“The sacrifices can be significant, but the growth that comes from pursuing something bigger than yourself is worth every bit of it,” said Austin. “You may achieve a Guinness World Records title, but more importantly, you’ll discover what you’re truly capable of along the way.”
Images taken and provided by Michelle Shen