- Charles Servizio
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Charles Servizio 
World Record Holder, Charles Servizio (42) raises monies for his animal friendsBorn September 5, 1950
Lynn, Massachusetts, USAResidence Adelanto, CA Nationality American Occupation Teacher for the San Bernardino County Supt. of Schools (Retired) Spouse Judy (m. 1973–present) Children Anthony Servizio (Born. January 1, 1977)
Reesa (Servizio) Cooper (Born. April 26, 1980)Website facebook.com/pages/Charles-Servizio-World-Record-Holder-46001-push-ups-in-24-Hours/173377452707073 Contents
Pushup career
Charles Servizio was 38 years of age when he made his first attempt to break the Guinness Book 24-hour pushup record. The attempt was unsuccessful – he quit at thirty-thousand pushups and fell short of the standing record by over four thousand pushups. But this was the first of four attempts in which he successfully broke the standing records, the last being 46,001 pushups in just over twenty-two hours.
Charles’ odyssey into the world of pushups began under inauspicious circumstances. Suffice it to say that Charles’ high-school wrestling coach rewarded poor performance in tournaments with pushups. Charles lost all his matches and ended up doing 700 pushups in sets of 10 as his grand finale to the wrestling season. This was in 1966 when Charles was sixteen years old.
Charles’ second attempt in 1991 at the record resulted in 40,103 pushups, but the Guinness Book did not recognize it because the pushup counters were not fitness experts. He broke the record under proper Guinness Book auspices in January 1992 with 40,396, followed by 40,396 in November of that year. Those 40,396 pushups, however, were in vain because unbeknown to Charles, an individual from the Georgia Republic had completed 44,141 pushups just previous to Charles’ attempt. Charles proceeded to redeem himself in April 1993 when he completed 46,001 pushups and set the record that still stands today.
Charles does his pushups in sets of 50. Each set is completed in 25 seconds with a 35-second break between each set. Each pushup complies with the Guinness Book required form; that is, full arm extension pushups with a straight back, reaching at least a 90 angle in the down position. Charles trained in the exact manner as in the actual attempts, but never broke a record in training. During his last attempt, Charles completed 30,000 pushups during the first 10 hours, providing him with a comfort zone for the remaining 16,001 pushups.
Progressive 24 Hour Record Attempts
- 1988, November 26–27 → 29,520 Push-ups in 17:00 hours. Standing Record: 33,600 Push-ups
- 1991, February 8–9 → 40,103 Push-ups in 17:39 hours. Standing Record: 37,350 Push-ups
- 1992, January 18–19 → 40,390 Push-ups in 19:17 hours. Standing Record: 37,350 Push-ups
- 1992, October 31 - November 1 → 43,001 Push-ups in 19:06 hours. Standing Record: 44,141 Push-ups
- 1993, April 24–25 → 46,001 Push-ups in 21:06 hours. Standing Record: 44,141 Push-ups
- 1994, March 29-30 → 33,082 Push-ups in 17:00 hours. Standing Record: 46,001 Push-ups
Progressive 1 Hour Record Attempts
- 1996, May 5 → 3,400 Push-ups in 1 hour. Standing Record: 1,845 push-ups
- 1998, May 30 → 3,023 Push-ups in 1 hour. Standing Record: 1,845 push-ups
- 2000, January 30 → 3,355 Push-ups in 1 hour. Standing Record: 3,416 push-ups
Charitable Contributions
Fundraising
Charles Servizio has never earned a penny from his lengthy push-up career, and it should be known that Guinness World Records does not pay monies to those who break their world records.
However, for every push-up marathon Charles has participated in, Charles has utilized his ability to push-up to raise monies for a host of charities, and organizations.
From 1988 to 1994, Charles has raised within $ 500 to $ 2,000 dollars per push-up marathon for charities such as; the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, a suicide hot-line, a gang diversion program, San Bernardino - Camp Fire Boys and Girls, and a telethon to raise monies for extracurricular activities at Fontana High School.
Fundraising for animals
It was not until 1996, when the self-admitted cat lover decided to focus his discipline to increase the quality of life for animals everywhere. Charles and his family had already extended their family to 14 cats (11 of the cats were adopted as kittens from the streets), 3 dogs, and a guinea pig.
Upon learning he had been breaking the 1 hour push-up, Guinness World Record as a part of his previous 24 hour marathons; Charles was now pursuing the 1 hour record.
From 1996 to 2000 followed 3 more push-up marathons.
During which Charles had raised monies and awareness for; Project Animal Life Animal Foundation, Pet-N-Friends (local pet adoption center), scholarships for the Excelsior Education Center, Breast Cancer Research, all the while promoting prevention of senseless animal deaths.
Charles has even volunteered many hours at local animal shelters – cleaning cages, and attending to animals in need.
It should also be noted that during one of his 1 hour push-up marathons, a local newspaper, “High Desert – daily press” quoted Charles,”The push-ups themselves are meaningless and the record is meaningless. It’s the amount of animals that are save here – that’s what’s important to me.”
The last Fundraiser – but is it the last push-up?
60 year-old, Charles Servizio has not stopped doing push-ups since 1966. Unfortunately we do not know how many push-ups Charles has accomplished in the last 44 years (we do know he documented 7,000,000 push-ups during his first 25 years, but lost the documentation around 1992).
However, Charles Servizio will be traveling upon his own expense to Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) from his home in Adelanto, California (US) for his last fundraising push-up marathon for Fusion Canada’s Hope festival.
During the second day of the Hope festival (2011, August 5, 6, and 7th) Charles plans to match 3 push-ups to every balloon Darryl Learie blows up in 24 hours.
Charles Servizio once again proved his abilities, on 2011, March 13th when Darryl Learie posted a YouTube of the 60 year-old performing 80 push-ups in 51.4 seconds.
Than on March 15th, 2011 Charles made his intentions known publicly when Darryl Learie posted another YouTube video, aptly named,” Charles Servizio Darryl Learie Talk Fusion Canada World Record Fundraiser.”
“Does it matter which community I help?” – Charles Servizio
Professional Career
Teaching in Summary
Charles Servizio retired as a teacher some time in 2010, after 35 years of teaching. What is most notable about his teaching career was who he taught (not necessarily what he taught). Aside from 4 years teaching regular education at the elementary school level, Charles also spent 7 years teaching adult basic education (assisting mature students in achieving their high-School diploma).
However, Charles also taught at risk youth for 19 years within alternative educational institutions. Many of the youths educated by Charles were already within the penal system – some facing serious charges such as murder.
Charles was known and referred among those who worked in similar teaching facilities (especially within the California area) as a teacher who can build a rather good rapport with these youth. Such rapport was built on Charles ability to appreciate that part of these Youth who, ‘wanted, and seeked a method of self-improvement.’
Charles approach was simple, to approach these youth as one who genuinely cared, and wanted to improve their lives through education.
It should also be noted, that fellow teacher, and wife to Charles, Judy – taught handicapped children early in her teaching career.
Teaching Resume
- 1975-1978: Adult Basic Education: Indian Reserve (South end, Reindeer Lake, Sask.)
- 1980-1984: Alternative Education of at-risk high-school kids (1980-1981) / Grades 4 and 5 (1981-* 1984) (Blaine Lake, Sask.)
- 1984-1985: Adult Basic Education: Indian Reserve (Cochin, Sask.)
- 1985-1986: Alternative Education of at-risk kids in correctional setting (Saskatoon) while attending Law School (University of Sask.)
- 1986-1989: Adult Basic Education: Mentally ill adults (Saskatoon)
- 1989-1998: Alternative Education of at-risk kids (Juvenile Hall, San Bernardino, CA)
- 1998-1999: Grade 3 (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
- 2002-2010: Grades 7-12 Charter School for at-risk kids (Victorville, CA)
External links
- Guinness World Records
- URDB (Universal Record Data-Base)
- Charles Servizio Interview - The Man Behind The Push-Up by Darryl Learie
- Charles Servizio FaceBook Fan Page
- (YouTube Video) World Record - Most 46,001 Push-Ups in 24 Hours Charles Servizio
- Current Push-Up World Records
- (YouTube Video) Charles Servizio Darryl Learie Talk Fusion Canada World Record Fundraiser
- (YouTube Video) World Record Holder (60 Year-old) Charles Servizio does 80 push-ups in 51.4 Seconds
- Darryl Learie (Wikispaces) Current Affairs - Charles Servizio
- The Godfather of Push-ups
- thelongestlistofthelongeststuffatthelongestdomainnameatlonglast.com
- 5 Facts about Push-ups
- Fusion Canada - Hope Festival
- Fusion Canada - A New Hope Community Festival - 2 World Records (YouTube Video - Official Promo)
References
1. ^1988 November 26, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Star-Phoenix, A6, "Local Teacher takes aim at push-up record," article by Jens Nielsen.
2. ^1991 February 10, Riverside County, San Berdino, California, The Press-Enterprise (Metro Edition), "40,001 push-ups breaks record," article by unknown.
3. ^1992 February 22, Victor Valley, California, Daily Press, "Victorville man hopes for Guinness record after finishing 40,000 push-ups in 19 hours," article by Ralph Walter
4. ^1993 May 1, The Daily Press/Victorville,Calif. C2 Exercise,"Servizio breaks push-up mark," article by Eddie Southards
5. ^1993 May 2, The San Diego Union-Tribune, D5, "No excuses, because push-up can be done anywhere," article by NewHouse News Service
6. ^1993 April 26, The Wall Street Journal. A12 Leisure & Arts,"On Sports. Push-Up Record Broken Again," article by Frederick C Klein
7. ^1993 December 31, The Wall Street Journal (Deep Archive), "On Sports: Amateur jocks push and swish to top," article by Frederick C Klein.
8. ^1994 - The Guinness Book of World Records
9. ^1995 - The New Guinness Book of Records (page-262)
10. ^1996 April 8, The Daily Press/Victorville, California, "Push-up King makes pitch for welfare of animals," article by Heather Whiteside.
11. ^1998 April 9, Daily Press, High Desert, California, "3,450 push-ups in one hour," article by Greg Harris.
12. ^1998 June 28, Press Dispatch, High Desert, California, B1, "A Record Try," article by Craig Johnson
13. ^2000 February 3, Apple Valley News - The Adelanto Bulletin, California, Page 5, "Servizio Misses out on new push-up record by 61," article by Margaret Caufield
Categories:- Living people
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