SPOKANE, Wash. – A Spokane Valley man and former Whitworth basketball star is one step closer to becoming a Guinness World Record holder after unofficially breaking the record for the most grappler pull-ups completed in one minute.
Lance Pecht attempted the record Sunday at Body Unlimited Fitness, finishing with 31 grappler pull-ups to surpass the previous mark of 29.
Unlike a traditional pull-up, grappler pull-ups require athletes to grip lacrosse balls draped over a pull-up bar, placing additional strain on the hands, wrists, forearms and upper body.
Pecht said the journey began with a simple goal.
“Initially I just made up my mind. I wanted a world record,” he said. “I started looking at pull-ups and things I was actually better at.”
Training for the attempt took weeks, with Pecht working alongside coaches at Body Unlimited Fitness to refine his technique.
Body Unlimited Fitness co-owner Natalie Joseph said Pecht’s determination stood out throughout the process.
“His mindset was, ‘How do I improve? How do I improve? What do I need to tweak to make this better?’” Joseph said.
With witnesses counting every repetition and multiple cameras recording the attempt to meet Guinness World Records guidelines, Pecht powered through the one-minute challenge to finish with 31 successful reps.
Beyond the record itself, Pecht said he hopes his accomplishment inspires others to aim higher.
“I think oftentimes we train our minds to think smaller than what we’re capable of,” he said. “I didn’t want to be the best in my area. I wanted to be the best in the world.”
Pecht’s performance is now under review by Guinness World Records. The organization will evaluate video footage and witness documentation before determining whether to officially certify the record, a process that can take up to 12 weeks.
COPYRIGHT 2026 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
