Canadian Bodybuilder Kyle Landi Sets Five Guinness World Records, From a 117.38-Kg Deadlift to 23 Pull-Ups in One Minute

Kyle Landi set two Guinness World Records on January 29 in Burlington, Ontario. The 26-year-old Canadian bodybuilder lifted 117.38 kg, the heaviest deadlift ever for a male athlete in the II2 category.

He also recorded 1,044.07 kg of total weight in one minute, another II2 record.

Landi returned to the record books two months later. This time, the records involved speed and bodyweight exercises. He completed 11 20-metre shuttle runs in one minute, followed by 23 pull-ups and 15 chin-ups in one minute. Guinness World Records lists all three achievements in the male II2 category.

Those five records give Landi five Guinness World Records titles in 2026.

Kyle Landi's Journey From Childhood to Competitive Bodybuilding

Landi's childhood was marked by several serious health problems. At 11, he fractured his hip, but the injury went unnoticed for six weeks. He eventually needed emergency surgery and spent the next six months in a half-body cast. He eventually learned to walk again.

His health challenges began even earlier. Landi was born six weeks premature and was later diagnosed with an atrioventricular septal defect, a congenital heart defect involving the upper chambers of the heart. He had open-heart surgery when he was nine, according to CTV News.

He began training at age seven and started bodybuilding at 23. Guinness reports that he currently trains five days a week, with workouts covering the chest, back, legs, shoulders and arms.

A February 2026 profile by CTV News identified Landi as Canada's first competitive bodybuilder with Down syndrome. At the time of publication, he had more than one million followers across Instagram and TikTok, according to the report, and was a certified personal trainer who trained with Arnold Schwarzenegger and bodybuilding figures.

Landi is described in an earlier Global Heroes profile as having been interested in sports since childhood, including dance, gymnastics, and weight training. The article also said he became interested in bodybuilding after watching the Mr. Olympia competition during a trip to Las Vegas.

Landi has also trained in Taekwondo.

In a recent Instagram post, Landi showed part of his black-belt examination, including flying kicks and board-breaking. His Guinness records fall under the II2 impairment category. Guinness uses this category for athletes with conditions involving substantial ongoing limitations in learning or adaptive behaviour along with an additional impairment. As a result, Landi's records are listed within that classification rather than alongside unrestricted records.

See also: Guinness World Record - He Was Told It Was Impossible—At 102, He Climbed Mount Fuji Anyway

What the II2 Category Means

Landi’s Guinness records fall under the II2 impairment category. Guinness uses this category for athletes with conditions involving substantial ongoing limitations in learning or adaptive behaviour along with an additional impairment. As a result, Landi's records are listed within that classification rather than alongside unrestricted records.

Down Syndrome and Exercise: What to Know

People with Down syndrome have trisomy of chromosome 21. This can affect areas such as muscle tone, joint stability and balance. Cardiovascular problems can also occur. This does not mean that people with Down syndrome need to avoid exercise. The National Down Syndrome Society recommends activities that develop endurance, strength, balance and flexibility. It advises people to discuss an exercise program with a healthcare professional, particularly if they have heart, bone or joint problems. ¹

In a systematic review of 35 studies on physical activity interventions for people with Down syndrome, aerobic and strength training programs improved several measures of physical fitness, including aerobic capacity and upper- and lower-body strength. In addition, exercise programs may have to take into account health conditions that occur more frequently in people with Down syndrome. ^2,3

Clinical guidance identifies issues including hypotonia, joint hypermobility, balance problems and some musculoskeletal conditions.

According to current cardiology guidance, individuals with congenital heart disease should assess the type and intensity of exercise based on their clinical status. Competitive sports participation may be appropriate after a comprehensive evaluation and individualized assessment. ⁴

Down syndrome affects individuals differently, so exercise requirements cannot be determined solely by their diagnosis for competitive athletes.

Kyle Landi's Competitive Bodybuilding Career

Landi also competed in bodybuilding events during 2026. Guinness reports that he won three gold medals and the Best Poser award at the Mindi O Show while preparing for a Toronto Pro Show qualifier.

In June, Landi competed at the 2026 Toronto Pro Qualifier and finished second, according to bodybuilding publications Generation Iron and Fitness Volt. The result placed him one position away from an IFBB Pro Card.

Landi’s goal is to become the first athlete with an intellectual disability or Down syndrome to earn an IFBB Pro Card, according to Guinness. 

He has also established Down2train with his parents. According to Guinness, the organisation focuses on fitness, confidence and community for people with Down syndrome.

Landi's five Guinness World Records titles add another milestone to his competitive bodybuilding career while also bringing attention to participation in strength and fitness activities among people with disabilities.

References:

1. National Down Syndrome Society. “Physical Activity and Down Syndrome.” Accessed September 20, 2026. https://ndss.org/physical-activity-down-syndrome 

2. “Health Outcomes of Physical Activity Interventions in Adults With Down Syndrome: A Systematic Review.” PubMed. Accessed September 20, 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36724790/ 

3. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. “Medical Care for Adults With Down Syndrome: Systematic Review.” NCBI Bookshelf. Accessed September 20, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK622270/ 

4. “2025 ACC/AHA/HRS/ISACHD/SCAI Guideline for the Management of Adults With Congenital Heart Disease.” Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Accessed September 20, 2026. https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.09.006

(Rh/MSM)