Graber set the record by pistol squatting 77kg on his right leg
December 15, 2025 by Joseph Marmerstein in Livewire, News
Chris Graber, a resident of North Canton, Ohio, and member of the UFA’s Pittsburgh Thunderbirds for six seasons, is now the Guinness World Record holder for the pistol squat, setting the world record on May 25, 2025.
Graber, who started playing ultimate with his family when he was 9 years old, has long been known in the ultimate community as a springy and explosive player.
From 2021-2024 he attended Mount Vernon Nazarene University, where he walked onto the track team with no prior track experience, having only ever competed in ultimate. Graber currently holds three school records: the indoor and outdoor triple jump (13.08m and 13.65m respectively) and the outdoor long jump (7.10m).
After training the pistol squat for nearly a year, Graber first beat the previous world record of 70.5 kg in his home gym in early April, 2025. In order to become the official world record holder, he had to submit official paperwork and proof of the lift, which included performing the record-breaking lift in a public gym with two certified weight-training observers while being captured on video.
On May 25, 2025, Graber set the record by pistol squatting 77kg on his right leg. He was officially named the world record holder for the pistol squat by the Guinness Book of World Records on November 26, 2025.
“I have not decided on a specific record next yet,” Graber said, “but I have a couple I am looking at to train for and complete in 2026. All in the single leg strength or jumping realm which has been my niche.”
In 2026, Graber is looking forward to focusing more of his time on club ultimate, hoping to have the opportunity to return to Nationals for the first time since he attended with Pittsburgh Temper in 2019.
