A Butte man is starting off 2025 with a new title in the Guinness World Records for the heaviest kettlebell swing, completing 39 swings with a 132-pound kettlebell in just one minute.
“I could probably look around Butte and find a dozen guys who are stronger than me, if not more,” said Ray Hibnes, reflecting on his achievement. “I just chose to work towards a very specific record and I was successful today.”
By day, Hibnes works in an IT department, but his true passion lies in fitness. At night, he serves as a personal trainer, helping teens improve their athletic skills. It was in his pursuit of a new challenge that Hibnes decided to aim for the Guinness World Record for the most weight lifted by kettlebell swings in one minute—a feat that would ultimately earn him international recognition.
“I was falling into a rut in my workout routines, and that’s when I decided to train for this record,” Hibnes explained. “It’s surreal that after all the training, it’s finally done after just one minute.”
To break the previous record, held by a Swiss athlete, Hibnes enlisted the help of a team from Kinetic Fitness in Uptown Butte, led by Melissa Kindt, who documented and timed the event. Hibnes had several kettlebell weight options at his disposal, ultimately choosing the 132-pound kettlebell in hopes of surpassing the previous mark of 4,551 pounds.
“He chose the 132-pound kettlebell because he was aiming for 38 consecutive, unbroken swings in one minute. That’s the weight of my whole body, so it was unbelievable to watch,” said Kindt, the owner of Kinetic Fitness.
Hibnes not only surpassed the previous record but shattered it, completing 39 swings and lifting a total of 5,148 pounds.
“This is part of a bigger goal,” Hibnes said, eyeing future records and a chance to use his feats to raise funds for charitable causes. “I hope to work with people who are skilled at raising money for events and combine that with my passion for fitness. We want to do more than just swing steel around.”
Already eyeing his next challenge, Hibnes has applied to break the three-minute kettlebell swing record, with plans to continue pushing the boundaries in the world of strength records.
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