Five-year-old Axel Luchsinger experienced an extraordinary day at school when an announcement revealed him as a world-record setter. The beloved childhood toy, the Slinky, has secured a new record for descending 53 stairs, surpassing the previous achievement by 23 steps, according to Guinness World Records. Axel, along with his parents Joe and Christelle Luchsinger from Connecticut, orchestrated this impressive feat.
Axel, driven by curiosity for the biggest and best in everything, developed an interest in Slinky toys. Their quest to break the record began when they discovered the previous record of 30 stairs and deemed it achievable. After testing various Slinkys, they settled on a plastic multicolored one as the most suitable.
During a trip to Ohio in May 2025, the family located a suitable location for the attempt at Otterbein University. Despite initial setbacks at a dam, they successfully executed the record-breaking descent on a steep set of bleachers.
In a coordinated effort, Christelle launched the Slinky, Axel counted the stairs, and Joe retrieved the toy after each run. As they persisted through the challenge, they narrowly evaded an approaching storm, with Christelle achieving longer runs that eventually led to the successful completion of the descent.
Although no live adjudicator was present, the family filmed the attempt in May 2025, later receiving certification via email in March of the following year. Looking ahead, the family is eyeing another record involving a Galilean cannon launch, emphasizing the importance of finding time for play even as adults.
Christelle expressed the excitement of setting a record, while Axel playfully suggested aiming for 150 stairs next. Joe reflected on the experience, acknowledging the value of taking a lighthearted activity seriously and cherishing the memorable moments created with Axel.
