Acrobat shares top tips on avoiding dizziness as he performs record number of backflips

A software engineer with a passion for performing backflipped his way into the record books.

Fred Blijden (Netherlands) found a spot in Guinness World Records 2027 after pulling off the most standing backwards somersaults in 30 seconds (male): a total of 22.

The 26-year-old’s feat, on 18 February, outdid the previous mark by three.

Fred, a part-time athlete and performer, trained in gymnastics for three years and has practised acrobatics and breakdancing for over 10 years.

But that doesn’t mean somersaulting that many times in a row is easy.

He told us: “I've dealt with several injuries over the past few years, mainly because I no longer train as frequently as I used to, yet I still perform physically demanding skills that my body isn't always prepared for.

“During the period leading up to this record attempt, the main injuries I struggled with were my left patellar tendon and my right wrist.”

One of the biggest challenges involved in performing a feat like this is avoiding becoming too dizzy.

Fred explained: “I try to focus on a single point while doing the flips to minimize dizziness. However, I still start getting dizzy around the 10th flip, and from that point onwards, I rely heavily on muscle memory to continue performing the flips cleanly, even when I can no longer see clearly. This is actually the biggest challenge for me personally when attempting this record.

“For anyone trying to perfect their backflip technique, I would recommend focusing on the key aspects of the set (the initial take-off) and practising them in a safe environment, preferably with an experienced coach. Recording yourself and analyzing the footage afterwards is also extremely helpful, because often you won't realize what you're doing wrong until you see yourself on video or have someone more experienced point it out.

“Most importantly, I would recommend getting plenty of repetitions in. Doing something just a few times won't make a significant difference to your muscle memory. Consistent practice is what really helps you improve your technique.”

Read about more records like this in our Sports and Fitness section.

Fred had already broken this record twice unofficially before going for it for real.

He admits he was actually a little bit disappointed in his final amount, because he’d done even more backwards somersaults in his unofficial attempts.

This isn’t the end of the road though.

He said: “I'll definitely be attempting more records in the future, possibly even this same one again to beat my current record. I feel like I still have more to give, and I'd love to push the record further to set a more challenging benchmark for others to beat.

“Apart from attempting records, I'm also passionate about different disciplines, including breakdancing, tricking and freestyle calisthenics. I'm particularly known on social media for my high standing backflips and being one of the few people in the world capable of performing a standing double backflip. I love pushing my physical limits and coming up with new challenges to see what's possible.”

Read about Fred and lots of other record holders in Guinness World Records 2027 – on sale worldwide now!