Army
Oregon National Guard soldier sets world record for hand-release pushups; ‘I’ll just keep going until I run out of steam’
Stars and Stripes
May 25, 2025
Oregon Army National Guard Physician Assistant Maj. Tommy Vu points to the counter displaying 1,422 repetitions after completing his world record attempt for most hand release pushups in one hour at West Coast Strength gym in West Salem, Ore., May 23, 2025. (Wayne Clyne/U.S. Army National Guard)
Oregon Army National Guard soldier Maj. Tommy Vu set a world record for the most hand release pushups completed in one hour at West Coast Strength gym in West Salem, Ore., on Friday.
Hand-release pushups are a variation of the standard pushup where the hands are briefly lifted off the ground between each repetition.
Vu achieved 1,422 repetitions, surpassing the minimum requirement of 1,250 repetitions to qualify as an official Guinness World Record — which is still pending official verification by the authority.
“My goal was to break the record, but when I talked to my commanding officer about it, he said if I didn’t get 1,350, that wouldn’t be good enough,” said Vu, who is a physician assistant. “So I was really happy when I looked over and saw 1,350. I asked them to take a photo to show him I did it.”
Vu dedicated $1 per repetition to charity, with proceeds benefiting cancer research in honor of a friend who recently completed her first marathon while battling brain cancer.
Oregon Army National Guard Physician Assistant Maj. Tommy Vu holds his son Adonis while surrounded by friends and family who came out to support his world record attempt at West Coast Strength gym in West Salem, Ore., May 23, 2025. His wife Linda holds a large donation check for $1,422, representing $1 for each repetition completed, which will be donated to cancer research. (Wayne Clyne/U.S. Army National Guard)
“His [Vu] commitment to giving back through charitable donations with each record attempt embodies the service-oriented mindset that defines our Guard members,” said Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, the adjutant general of Oregon.
This latest accomplishment marks Vu’s seventh world record following his latest burpee record in October. His previous world records are also for other fitness challenges.
“People always ask when I’m going to stop or when enough is enough,” Vu said. “There’s always going to be charity out there, people to help, and records to break, so I’ll just keep going until I run out of steam.”
Oregon Army National Guard Physician Assistant Maj. Tommy Vu grimaces with maximum effort at the apex of a pushup as the counter shows 1,413 repetitions with just 26 seconds remaining in his world record attempt at West Coast Strength gym in West Salem, Ore., May 23, 2025. (Wayne Clyne/U.S. Army National Guard)
Oregon Army National Guard Physician Assistant Maj. Tommy Vu performs the hand release portion of a pushup during his world record attempt for most hand release pushups in one hour at West Coast Strength gym in West Salem, Ore., May 23, 2025. Vu’s wife Linda can be seen in the background capturing the historic moment. (Wayne Clyne/U.S. Army National Guard)
Oregon Army National Guard member Pedro Velasquez keeps the official count while friends and spectators perform pushups alongside Maj. Tommy Vu during his world record attempt for most hand release pushups in one hour at West Coast Strength gym in West Salem, Ore., May 23, 2025. (Wayne Clyne/U.S. Army National Guard)