Today’s story, from UPI: Man balances 195 rolls of toilet paper on his head for 30 seconds (by Ben Hooper, UPI, July 20, 2026).
🟢 Beginner
Reading
David Rush loves breaking world records. He lives in Idaho.
In 2021, David set a world record. He balanced 101 rolls of toilet paper on his head!
Later, another person broke his record. That person balanced 152 rolls.
David wanted his record back. He tried again.
His first try did not work. The rolls fell down. David said the biggest problem was his nerves. If he felt nervous, the rolls would shake and fall.
On his second try, David did it! He balanced 195 rolls of toilet paper on his head for 30 seconds. He got his world record back!
David said, “Taking back that title felt great.”
Vocabulary
- balance — to keep something steady without it falling
- roll — a long piece of paper wrapped around itself in a tube shape
- world record — the best result ever officially measured
- nerves — the feeling of being worried or scared before doing something
- wobble — to shake or move unsteadily from side to side
- attempt — a try at doing something
- title — the name given to a record or championship win
- layer — one level of something stacked on top of others
Comprehension Check
Discussion
- Would you ever try to break a world record? What kind of record would you want to break?
- Why do you think staying calm is important when trying to do something difficult?
- What is the strangest world record you have ever heard of?
🟡 Intermediate
Reading
David Rush, a serial Guinness World Records breaker from Idaho, has reclaimed a title he first set years ago — the record for most toilet paper rolls balanced on the head.
Rush originally set the record in 2021, balancing 101 rolls on his forehead. Another competitor later broke it, pushing the total to 152 rolls, which motivated Rush to attempt to win back the title.
His first attempt to reclaim the record didn’t go as planned. Rush explained that the biggest challenge in this unusual sport is managing nerves: any hesitation causes the stack to wobble, and once one layer shifts, the whole tower can come crashing down.
On his second attempt, Rush successfully balanced all 195 rolls of toilet paper on his head for the required 30 seconds, officially reclaiming the world record.
“Taking back that title felt great,” Rush wrote online. “But there is always another layer to add.”
Vocabulary
- reclaim — to get something back that you previously had
- serial (record-breaker) — someone who does something repeatedly, as a habit
- competitor — a person who takes part in a contest against others
- motivate — to give someone a reason to do something
- hesitation — a pause caused by uncertainty or nervousness
- shift — to move slightly out of position
- officially — in a way that is formally recognized or confirmed
- unusual — not common; out of the ordinary
Comprehension Check
Discussion
- Rush says nerves are his biggest obstacle, more than physical skill. Can you think of other activities where mental focus matters more than physical ability?
- What do you think motivates someone to keep breaking and reclaiming records in something so unusual?
- Do you think records like this deserve as much recognition as records for things like sports or academics? Why or why not?
🔴 Advanced
Reading
David Rush, a serial Guinness World Records holder from Idaho who reportedly holds more concurrent titles than almost anyone else in the world, has reclaimed one of his most memorably absurd records: balancing the most rolls of toilet paper on his own head.
Rush first set the record in 2021 with 101 rolls, only to see it overtaken by a rival competitor who pushed the mark to 152. Determined to reclaim his title, Rush made an attempt to surpass that total — an effort that, by his own account, hinges less on physical strength than on psychological composure.
“The first attempt was a humbling reminder of the biggest enemy in this sport: nerves,” Rush wrote of his initial, unsuccessful try. “If I feel even a hint of hesitation, the stack wobbles. That wobble creates a wave through the compressed layers, and everything comes crashing down.”
On his second attempt, Rush managed to stack and balance all 195 rolls atop his head for the full 30 seconds required by Guinness World Records rules, officially reclaiming the title.
“Taking back that title felt great,” he wrote. “But there is always another layer to add” — a wry acknowledgment that in the world of competitive record-breaking, no title is ever permanently secure.
Vocabulary
- concurrent — happening or existing at the same time
- absurd — wildly unreasonable or ridiculous, often in a humorous way
- rival — a person competing for the same goal or title
- composure — a calm and controlled state of mind
- hinge on — to depend entirely on a particular factor
- compressed — pressed tightly together
- wry — showing dry, ironic humor
- permanently secure — safe or fixed in a lasting, unchanging way
Comprehension Check
Discussion
- The article frames this record as depending more on psychological composure than physical skill. What other “physical” competitions might actually be won or lost mentally?
- Rush’s closing line suggests that record-breaking is a never-ending cycle. What might drive someone to keep pursuing titles in such a niche, unusual category?
- Consider the cultural appeal of intentionally absurd world records (as opposed to serious athletic ones). Why do you think audiences find these records entertaining or shareable?
📣 Share This Lesson
195 rolls of toilet paper, one head, 30 seconds — David Rush just reclaimed his world record! 🧻🤯 Read today’s story and test your English. #ESL #EnglishLearning #immersionesl
Source: “Man balances 195 rolls of toilet paper on his head for 30 seconds” by Ben Hooper, UPI (July 20, 2026).