IShowSpeed known for his energetic streams and wild stunts, tried to set a Guinness World Record for the most backflips in 24 hours on 7 October 2024. The current record is 1,001 flips, achieved by Austrian athlete Nico Scheicher in 2019. Speed’s attempt was streamed live for thousands of fans who tuned in, earning a lot of momentum but eventually dealt disappointment with unexpected setbacks.
IShowSpeed is no stranger to taking his body to the extreme while streaming, and he was determined to complete 1,001 backflips-the record being attempted, although some reports cited the number as high as 1,008. Setting this record would require him doing approximately 42 backflips an hour. His stream on October 7 started full of energy. During the first 90 minutes of this stream, Speed clocked in a total of 168 backflips, really setting the pace with his determination and athleticism. He had completed 300 backflips by the three-hour mark, well on pace, but the physical toll would eventually catch up to him.
After a brilliant beginning, IShowSpeed indeed suffered the inevitable consequences with his body. After fighting his way through 19 hours of constant work, he reached a total of 660 backflips. His legs, visibly tired and not able to maintain the rhythm, made him stop the record.
Severe pain in the legs accompanied by extreme exhaustion was evident as Speed clearly expressed his frustration in the livestream. “My legs just couldn’t take it anymore,” he said, with a red face from disappointment as he realized the stoppage fell shy of his target. As he had been supported through the stream, his fans were very quick to fill up the chat box with words of encouragement and recovery advice, many offering tips such as taking ice baths and massaging his legs. Yet he knew continuing could very well lead to an injury, and thus he made the call to end his attempt.
Unfortunately, Speed’s record-breaking bid hit yet another snag. Guinness World Records, which requires a prior notification for attempts to be made official, was never informed of IShowSpeed’s challenge. That perhaps shows that even if he finished the entire 1,008 backflips, it wouldn’t count without the registration.
In a bizarre twist, Guinness actually took to social media during the attempt to joke that they didn’t know about it, which left fans in uncertainty over whether the bid would be recognized.
IShowSpeed was not deterred by this little setback. Afterwards, he reassured his fans that he was willing to try the challenge again, and he had already set his eyes on a future attempt. I’m not giving up,” he said, suggesting another attempt could occur in the months ahead. His committed fan base was impressed with his determination and the fact that he’d go to such an extreme, supported him wholeheartedly telling him not to worry but be sure and rest for the next try at the record. Even though the attempt ended up with 660 and disappointment, the determination of IShowSpeed and passionate support from the followers made many believe he will get stronger and return for another world record soon.
