Gold Coast Police Officer’s Pull-Up World Record Overshadowed by Online Abuse

A Gold Coast police officer who smashed a Guinness World Record says her achievement has been tainted by a flood of online abuse.

Senior Constable Jade Henderson, 32, completed 733 pull-ups in one hour on August 22, surpassing the previous record of 725 set in 2016. Despite months of training, injury setbacks and intense preparation, Henderson said she was blindsided by the negativity that followed.

“I wasn’t expecting so much attention, and seeing people accuse me of cheating or using steroids was really disheartening,” she said. “It discredits the amount of work that went into this.”

Henderson initially trained for the 24-hour pull-up record but tore her biceps, forcing her to pivot to the one-hour attempt after five weeks of recovery. She said the final 20 minutes of the record-breaking hour were brutal.

“My hands ripped open, but I thought, ‘They can’t get any worse — make it worth it.’”

Guinness World Records officially confirmed the feat in late September.

Despite the verification, online trolls continued to target her. Henderson said she has never used steroids and refuses to let critics overshadow her success.

Women in sport often face backlash

Associate Professor Kim Toffoletti from Deakin University said Henderson’s experience reflects what many female athletes face online.
Research she co-authored found widespread gendered harassment, including personal insults (81%), hate speech (62%), attempts to embarrass (60%), and sexual harassment (39%).

Toffoletti said attacks often occur when women outperform men or succeed in spaces traditionally perceived as male-dominated.
“It reinforces ideas that women don’t belong or that their achievements are lesser — and that impacts their wellbeing,” she said.

Eyes on the next record

Henderson said she refuses to be rattled and is now training to claim the Guinness World Record for most pull-ups in one minute before year’s end.

“I just want to inspire people to chase their goals,” she said. “Believe in yourself — it really does make all the difference.”