Sports 3 min read

Teen tops 24-hour backflip world record

By The Best News Network November 15, 2026

Austin is standing in front of gym equipment to the left of the frame and wears a bright yellow top. He is smiling for the camera. — Austin says he hopes the challenge will inspire other people [BBC]

A teenager from East Yorkshire claims he has exceeded the existing Guinness World Record for the most backflip somersaults in 24 hours.

Austin Beasty, 18, from Market Weighton, completed 2,470 flips, double the record of 1,234 and is raising money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Independent witnesses monitored the attempt in line with Guinness World Records' standards, but the organisation has yet to confirm the record officially.

Austin set himself the challenge in memory of his brother, Jaygo, who died aged 17 in a road traffic collision in 2022.

Austin, an engineering apprentice, said: "To actually go out and do it feels great."

The attempt started at 06:00 GMT on Saturday and was due to finish at 06:00 on Sunday at Wolds Gymnastics Club in Driffield, where Austin competed as a junior.

The club confirmed the total on their Facebook page in the early hours of Sunday morning.

"Two thousand, four hundred and seventy of your finest flips," the post said.

"What a thing to witness! Hopefully this amazing guy has inspired some of you today!"

Austin is upside down mid flip and in the foreground two people are sat with their backs against the camera. — Volunteers witnessed the world record count [BBC]

Speaking after he had completed 1,426 flips, already surpassing the record, the teenager said: "I'm doing one every 20 seconds. I'm having regular breaks, keeping hydrated… I just keep chugging away."

"You can't do them fast because you fatigue too fast, and then you get cramps," Austin explained.

"I feel amazing.

"It's something I could only dream of," he said.

Tracey Beasty, Austin's mother, said she was very proud.

"A bit emotional, but it's fantastic.

"He's worked really hard for it," she said.

Austin lost his older brother, who he was very close to, four and a half years ago.

"We had a really, really good network of people, and the gymnastics club – that support network for Austin, was amazing," Tracey said.

Austin has raised money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the gymnastics club previously with a fundraising backflip attempt when he was 14. On Sunday his JustGiving page total for this challenge had passed £3,000.

"It's really nice to give something back," Tracey said.

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