Five-year-old Axel Luchsinger had an unexpected turn of events during a typical school day when the intercom declared him a world-record holder. “Everyone was hugging me,” he shared with CBC News. It appears the beloved childhood Slinky toy has now claimed a new record as a stair-descending champion, surpassing the previous achievement by 23 stairs, reaching a total of 53 steps, according to Guinness World Records. The remarkable feat was accomplished by Axel and his parents, Joe and Christelle Luchsinger, a family residing in Connecticut.
Axel’s fascination with the biggest, fastest, and strongest things prompted his interest in Slinky toys, especially after learning about his father’s past record-breaking attempts. Despite a previous unsuccessful endeavor involving a 20-hour handshake practice that led to disqualification, Axel and his parents believed they could conquer the Slinky record, which seemed achievable given the prior milestone of 30 stairs set in 2014.
In preparation, the family acquired seven Slinkys of varying characteristics to determine the most suitable one, ultimately selecting a plastic multicolored version. Their quest led them to Ohio in May 2025, where they initially aimed to perform the Slinky descent at a dam but had to adapt their plan due to the stair size. After securing permission from Otterbein University, they successfully executed the record-breaking feat on a steep set of bleachers.
The collaborative effort involved Christelle as the launcher, Axel as the stair counter, and Joe responsible for retrieving the Slinky after each run. Despite initial challenges and an impending storm, the family persisted until achieving an uninterrupted descent. Although no live adjudicator was present, the family captured the moment on video, later receiving official certification via email in March the following year.
Reflecting on their accomplishment, Christelle expressed pride in the record, while Axel playfully suggested aiming for 150 stairs next. Looking ahead, the family sets their sights on breaking the current highest launch record from a Galilean cannon, emphasizing the importance of finding time for play even as adults. Joe emphasized the joy and significance of their lighthearted but dedicated pursuit, transforming Axel’s imaginative idea into a memorable and rewarding experience.
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/new-world-record-for-slinky-stairs-9.7211529)
