Zapata defied the odds on January 31, an astonishing 12,345 pullupsbeating the Belgian athlete’s previous record of 11,900, Lennert Schots. This was the third pullup record for the Mexican, who also worked his way to most male pull-ups in 8 hours (4,949) and most male pull-ups in 12 hours (7,100). Those records have now been surpassed, but his latest record confirms that hard work still pays off.
From alcohol addiction & hypertension to elite endurance athlete
Speaking about the Tom Rowland podcastZapata said he had not always been an athlete in the prime of his conditioning. In fact, he was overweight, suffered from high blood pressure and was desperately addicted to alcohol. Zapata was certain that if he did not change his behavior, an early death would be the end of his story. Fortunately, he picked up the book “Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins, and his perspective quickly changed. In the motivational book, Goggins notes that this is his own story, so what will the reader do with his own story? “That touched me deeply,” he told the podcast. “The world belongs to the bold,” he explained. “You need two things: skill and courage.”
Despite announcing to family and friends his intentions to pursue a pullup record and then make that goal a reality, Zapata says he is not an extraordinary human being. In a recent Instagram post, the inspiring figure explained how his story can bring about real change for anyone who has the desire to take positive steps. ‘My story is one of transformation, overcoming and a single trial’ he wrote. “If it doesn’t break the laws of physics, it’s possible… and it’s possible for you,” Zapata added.
To break the 24-hour pullup record, Zapata explained on the Tom Rowland Podcast that he focused on nasal breathing to maximize oxygen intake, used cooling gels to protect his palms, mastered progressive overload training, and consumed a mixture of amino acids and electrolytes to prevent crashes and cramps. “I’ve done over a million pull-ups in five years,” he explained. “I’m still learning every day.”
When it comes to making positive changes to his lifestyle or training for world records, Zapata said he owes much of his success to a non-negotiable mentality and a refusal to quit. “There’s no towel. I’m not stopping,” he confirmed. The motivational Mexican athlete is now working on his own books in hopes of sharing the lessons he has learned
fasting, mindset and biohacking. “The mission is to advance humanity. If I can do it, everyone can do more.”
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