Inner City Kid Trains in Store Basement to Break World Record
Shaun McDaniel doesn’t eat on his half-hour lunch break. Instead, he spends his time in the basement of the New York thrift store where he works, doing as many push-ups as he can before break-time is over. Unable to afford a gym, it’s also in this dingy, unfinished concrete basement that he trains after work. Shaun slides his feet under clothing racks to do sit-ups. The exposed pipes and staircase become pull-up bars. The fifty-pound boxes of secondhand clothing serve as weights. It’s all part of the training regime Shaun has created for himself with one goal in mind – to get into the Guinness Book of World’s Records.
It’s an unusual goal for a kid born and raised in South Jamaica, Queens – a rough neighborhood famous for gang violence and producing rap artists like 50 Cent. “If you’re not a successful individual coming out of that neighborhood, it’s not a big deal to anybody,” says Shaun, now twenty four years old. “No one’s expecting much from you. I’ve seen a lot of friends get destroyed by the neighborhood that I live in, and I don’t want to be just another statistic. I’ve lived my entire life going against what everyone said I couldn’t do.”
Like many inner city youths, Shaun was raised poor and fatherless. He was a lanky, skinny kid, and was often beat up by the local gangs and picked on at school for liking punk rock music and skateboarding. As financial conditions deteriorated at home, he took a job at a young age to help his mother pay the bills. Over time he began to feel depressed by his situation and decided he needed to change something in his life. That’s when he began to do push-ups and sit-ups, taking legendary NFL player and bodyweight trainer Hershel Walker as his inspiration.
Then, a dare from one of his friends led him to try to do 1,000 push-ups. He did it in 5 hours. The next time, he did it in 1 hour. After seeing a few videos of world record holder and ‘Iron Man’ Paddy Doyle, he began to take his training seriously. “I want people to remember my name for doing something good in the world,” says Shaun. This August, Shaun will attempt to do over 1,000 push-ups on his fists in less than eighteen minutes. If he succeeds, he will have beaten the world record currently held by Canadian Doug Pruden, who, in 2003 did 1,000 push-ups in 18 minutes and 13 seconds.
It’s a tough goal to achieve alone. Shaun is without a trainer, and has little time to speak of outside of work. Still, this hasn’t deterred him from staying focused and disciplined. “If you had told me 3-4 months ago that I was going to be doing 2,080 push-ups an hour, I would have laughed at you,” he says. “I didn’t believe my body was capable of doing that. But I’m doing it, and I’m doing it out of my job. I’ve taken the past 3 months to sculpt myself, mentally and physically. That means any Joe blow who wants to be in shape, if they just put their mind to it, they can do whatever they want.”
Copyright 2010 EliteSportsandFitness
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This post was mentioned on Digg by NicolaeS: You will go in the Guinness Book of World Records for sure
I love City kit trains \:D/.. thanks man …
wow, guys like this really influence me. he has a goal in mind and is determined to succeed.
I wish I’ll see him in he Guinness Book of World’s Records.
I admire him for determination
Nice going I wish you all the luck 1000 fist push up in a 18 minutes sounds imposible.
Wow. What a bad ass. I hope he breaks the record. He deserves it. Hopefully he’ll be an inspiration for others in similar situations.
I am pleased to hear of someone with his drive and determination. Good luck to you; you are an inspiration to us all!
Ok. You can do a lot of pushups. You made a goal and it you are reaching. But in all respect, does doing pushups really accomplish anything? The only thing good in this world that has any real value is the things we do in collaboration with God. Doing pushup isn’t against God. But what is the final outcome. And what is the result. Big biceps. That by itself is small and temporary. Shaun, lift your head up and lookm to higher goals. Goals that are eternal. Bless You!
Go for it – I am inspired!
With God all things are possible and you can do all things in Christ who strengthens you. You got this!!
a very noble effort and pride, I hope what you want to achieve is achieved … from a store basement to be born of a champion
Your are an inspiration and a clean breath of fresh air.
I wish you the best .
If this guy can take a punch, which I’m sure he can. Can you imagine him as an MMA fighter? With his speed and stamina, his ground and pound would be scary
go kiddo!
you can do it….
Be sure to read FAITH AND FAT LOSS BY RON WILLIAMS. He had a hard time growing up and went on to win about 20 national bodybuilding titles.
good dude…keep it up with u r work…
good buddy…doing awesome job
You are doin a great job in this u shown up the body buliding tactics and lots of info abt how to shape our body…u r doin a great job
wow…nice muscel…it must a constant exercise…keep it up…
I think he will get the best out of it! our world really need some determined people like this!
arthur says:
January 6, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Ok. You can do a lot of pushups. You made a goal and it you are reaching. But in all respect, does doing pushups really accomplish anything? The only thing good in this world that has any real value is the things we do in collaboration with God. Doing pushup isn’t against God. But what is the final outcome. And what is the result. Big biceps. That by itself is small and temporary. Shaun, lift your head up and lookm to higher goals. Goals that are eternal. Bless You!
ok arthur, your looking for the greater reason of doing all those push ups right! Well look at all the lifes that might be changed for ever, just because of my brother’s dream. Read it some one out there is looking to make a change with in themselves and he has just inspired thousands upon millions in the world to be come phyically fit, are you serious! I’m sure God can see that,cause it was in his plans since birth for Ra’Shaun to do this.I’m proud of you lil bro do the damn thang! Luv ya…
[...] of you may have read this article on Shaun McDaniel, the youth from Southside, Queens who’s been training to break the world record [...]
To ARTHUR…
man,there always gotta be that ONE individual who wants to rain on someones parade with primitive religious jargon…and YOU are that person.
Shaun is a personal friend of mine and one of the most AWESOME and most badass people I know. He’s funny,loves punk rock music,and has come a LONG way. Humble and quiet with a heart of gold but he will unleash hell on anyone who dares cross his path.
You seem to just be focused on the physical aspect of his accomplishments knowing NOTHING of him personally other than what you’ve read thus far.I’ve seen Shaun go from a down-n-out mentality to a TAKE CHARGE OF MY LIFE attitude. As a U.S. Marine, I can’t help but to respect,admire,and be inspired by such a person. And if there IS a God,trust me,He’s been on Shauns’ shoulders all along…and those are some big f—kin shoulders!
And just so you know,Shaun IS a God fearing man.
Good luck bro! The boys are behind ya! Oi!
ONLY a thousand?
Im a fan on facebook and you wont believe what he’s planning to do this month.
[...] to becoming an international champion. Last week, the twenty four year old New Yorker famous for training in a thrift-store basement (link to original article) unofficially broke the world record that his longtime hero, Paddy Doyle, [...]
I must say…..you are an inspiration. Keep up the good work and stay focus. I love your story….its amazing.
Shaun,
You are a true inspiration and I’m so proud of your attitude. Keep movin forward with all your plans, you will go far.
I’m sure you will be able to help others that wouldn’t normally have the opportunity, you are doing it for the right reasons.
Break them all…………….