Twenty-year-old Otto Gross targets historic endurance milestone on August 8 at Navesink Fitness, partnering with the Patient Advocate Foundation.
Otto Gross, a 20-year-old resident of Rumson, N.J., will officially attempt to break the world record for the most pull-ups completed in a 24-hour period on Saturday, August 8, 2026. This monumental physical and mental challenge will take place at Navesink Fitness, located within the Navesink Center at 1006 Route 36 & Valley Drive in Atlantic Highlands, N.J. Beyond the athletic milestone, the historic event will serve as a major fundraiser for the Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF), a national nonprofit dedicated to helping patients navigate medical debt and access critical healthcare.
Gross’s journey to the pull-up bar began in July 2025 following a string of setbacks in other personal endeavors. Rather than letting defeat define him, he channeled his frustration into absolute discipline.
“Falling short of goals you have worked so hard to achieve can be soul-crushing, and that’s exactly how I felt,” Gross reflects. “But I didn’t want to stay down. My failure became the spark I needed to chase my full potential.”
Determined to redefine his limits, Gross completely overhauled his lifestyle. He instituted a grueling daily regimen—waking up at 5:15 a.m. to complete runs and heavy lifts before 8:30 a.m., meticulously controlling his nutrition, limiting screen time, and focusing on mental fortitude through reading. It was during this period of intense self-mastery that he dedicated himself to the pull-up bar, drawing inspiration from legendary endurance icons and former record holders like David Goggins, Doug Martin, Truett Hanes, and Oh Yohan. By the time he steps up to the bar on August 8, Gross will have completed more than 110,000 pull-ups over the course of his training.
Roughly three months into his preparation, Gross partnered with PAF to give his extraordinary physical feat a deeper, altruistic purpose. Having witnessed close friends struggle under the crushing weight of medical bills, he aligned his world-record ambitions with PAF’s mission of providing case management, financial aid, and co-pay relief to patients facing chronic, life-threatening, and debilitating illnesses.
“I hope my efforts serve as a testament to my care for the cause,” Gross said. “No one should have to face the battle of illness alone or in financial ruin. I am pouring everything I have into this record, and I encourage anyone reading this to please consider donating.”
Members of the community, fitness enthusiasts, and the media are warmly invited to attend the event at Navesink Fitness to support Gross throughout his grueling 24-hour journey.
To learn more about the event, track live training updates, or make a tax-deductible contribution to the cause, please visit the official Patient For Advocates website.
