Christy Starling (left) has unofficially set the Guinness World Record for the most knuckle push ups in one minute. (Photo: Pattison Media)

By Jayk Sterkenburg

Medicine Hat woman breaks world record for most push ups in one minute

Mar 10, 2025 | 10:38 AM

Medicine Hat’s Christy Starling considers physical exercise her self-care and release, but after an injury impeded certain workouts she could do, she decided to take on a new challenge of breaking records.

Starling wanted to break the Guinness World Record for most knuckle push ups in one minute, which she attempted in Medicine Hat on Sunday.

“Everybody is their worst enemy, so I feel like I could have done better,” she said.

However, Starling ended up breaking the record with 78 push ups with still five seconds to go on the clock, the previous record being 76 push ups.

She said she’s been working strictly on push ups for the past three years, but didn’t consider an attempt to break the record until a year ago.

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She has already started to think of her next goal of breaking the record for most push ups in an hour, currently held by another woman in Alberta with 1,575 push ups.

Starling was involved in a collision 12 years ago that left her with 15 screws, two plates and two rods in her left ankle.

Alex Mejuto, who doesn’t consider himself Starling’s personal trainer, said he’s more of a guide for her into a better, healthier overall wellbeing.

He said that includes helping with anything related to diet, training, and injuries in Starling’s case.

Mejuto said he was in attendance for the world record attempt to help Starling pace herself and keep focused on her goal.

“She’s definitely a very, very hard worker,” he said.

“Compared to other people, you actually have to kind of pull her back and tell her to do a little less.”

Starling said she wants to use the platform to create awareness for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, with her involvement in child and youth care counseling at Mcman Youth, Family and Community Services.

“This is more of a personal achievement as well, but it’s also- if I can spread the word of FASD awareness- it’s kind of forgotten about, it’s not as well known,” she said.

“People kind of put it on the back burner. But it is serious, it is a disability,” she added.

“Working with participants in the program, and what they’ve brought to me. They’ve brought me a lot of joy, they’ve taught me so much.”

Starling said that multiple recorded angles of the attempt were required to submit to Guinness World Records, and she now awaits their response.

READ MORE: Alberta grandmother Donna Jean Wilde sets world planking record

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