A musician with strong links to Maroubra has returned to the Guinness World Records books, four years after completing 8,008 pull-ups in a marathon challenge celebrated by a local gym.
Jaxon Italiano and fellow Fathom musician Cate Guirguis completed nine concerts across nine cities in 12 hours on 12 September 2026, travelling from Singleton to Canberra. Guinness World Records now recognises the pair as the holders of the record for the most concerts performed in 12 hours across multiple cities.
Maroubra knew him first for 8,008 pull-ups
Italiano’s latest record follows an earlier endurance feat that had a direct Maroubra connection.
Snap Fitness Maroubra publicly congratulated Italiano in 2022 after he completed 8,008 pull-ups in 24 hours, with photographs from the event showing him at the gym alongside Dementia Australia signage and the final repetition count displayed behind him.
Guinness World Records later confirmed Italiano had surpassed the previous mark of 7,715 pull-ups. He undertook the challenge while raising money for Dementia Australia after previously working in aged care and encountering dementia through that work.
His fundraising page set a target of $8,008 — one dollar for every pull-up he hoped to complete. The campaign ultimately raised $8,782 for Dementia Australia. The combination of physical endurance and fundraising would later reappear in a very different record attempt.
A second record moved from the gym to the stage
Four years later, Italiano exchanged the pull-up bar for keyboards as he and Guirguis attempted a music record with Fathom.
Their September route took them through Singleton, Newcastle, Gosford, Sydney, Penrith, Lithgow, Bathurst and Goulburn before the final performance in Canberra. Guinness officially records nine concerts completed within the 12-hour period.
The challenge required each concert to last at least 15 minutes, with venues separated by at least 50 kilometres. Road travel was combined with helicopter and aircraft transfers to fit the performances into the available time.
Delays began mounting later in the day. Fathom’s account says a helicopter transfer from Penrith was held up while the scheduled pilot was assisting with bushfires, while Italiano left his keyboard power cable behind and could not play the instrument during the next three performances.
A problem with an aircraft at Bathurst forced another change of plans before the musicians continued through Goulburn to Canberra. They finished their ninth concert with about 15 seconds remaining.
Charity remained part of the challenge
The new record also carried a fundraising purpose. Guinness World Records says Italiano and Guirguis attempted the nine-concert run to raise money for mental-health support while encouraging greater involvement in Sydney’s live-music culture.
Fathom reported more than $2,900 raised directly for Beyond Blue at the time of its release. Half of ticket proceeds from the tour were also allocated to Beyond Blue, with the remaining half going to supporting bands.
Record day also brought a new release
Fathom released Record Breakers on 12 September, the same day as the nine-show challenge. The song was released alongside the record attempt rather than after the result was confirmed.
A free Sydney performance is scheduled at The Lansdowne in Chippendale on 14 October, with Fathom appearing alongside Flyss, DAC Flow and Stereobuss.
Published 7-Oct-2026
