A Medicine Hat resident has officially etched her name into the record books.
Christy Starling, a dedicated fitness enthusiast, broke the Guinness World Record for most knuckle push-ups in one minute on Sunday, completing 78 repetitions—two more than the previous record of 76—with five seconds still remaining on the clock.
Despite her achievement, Starling remained self-critical.
“Everybody is their worst enemy, so I feel like I could have done better,” she admitted.
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Overcoming Injury to Reach New Heights
Starling’s journey to the record-breaking moment was years in the making. A serious car accident 12 years ago left her with 15 screws, two plates, and two rods in her left ankle. The injuries limited her ability to perform certain exercises, but instead of stepping away from fitness, she shifted her focus entirely to push-ups.
For the past three years, she has trained intensively, refining her technique and endurance. It wasn’t until a year ago that she set her sights on the Guinness World Record.
And she’s not stopping now.
Her next goal? Breaking the record for most push-ups in one hour—a daunting 1,575 repetitions, currently held by another Alberta woman.
A Support System Built on Strength
Starling credits part of her success to Alex Mejuto, who has been guiding her on training, diet, and injury management.
While he doesn’t consider himself her official personal trainer, Mejuto played a key role in helping her pace herself and stay focused during the record attempt.
“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.”
Raising Awareness for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Beyond personal achievement, Starling hopes to use her platform to shine a light on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)—a cause close to her heart.
Through her work in child and youth care counseling at McMan Youth, Family, and Community Services, she has seen firsthand the challenges faced by individuals with FASD.
“This is more of a personal achievement, but if I can spread the word about FASD awareness, that’s what matters,” she said. “It’s kind of forgotten about. People put it on the back burner, but it is serious—it is a disability.”
Awaiting Official Guinness Confirmation
To secure her place in Guinness history, Starling recorded multiple angles of her attempt, which she has submitted for verification. Now, she awaits official confirmation.
Regardless of the outcome, her determination and resilience have already made an impact—both in fitness and in advocacy.
