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Ouch! Ottawa man pierced 1,016 times for record
By Bob Holliday
bholliday@pantagraph.com
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OTTAWA -- Pain: Stubbing your toe. Beyond pain: Being pierced with a needle more than 1,000 times in an attempt to break a world record. Most of us have experienced the former and Matt Robison can tell you all about the latter.

Until last weekend, Robison had been pierced only a couple dozen times. The 20-year-old liked the way the decorative piercing in his nose, eyebrows and tongue made him look.

Last weekend, however, Robison took piercing to a whole new level. He was pierced 1,016 times at The Pit Studio in Ottawa in pursuit of a Guinness world record. He now awaits official certification of the achievement from Guinness.

In what may be the ultimate understatement, Robison, in a telephone interview, admitted to having a high tolerance for pain.

"I just figured I could do it," the Ottawa resident said.

He was nearly proved wrong.

"I wanted to quit at 500," he said, adding, however, that he continued despite the pain.

While the official Guinness World Record is 600, Robison got word that a new record of 1,015 was in the works in the United Kingdom. He was intent on bettering that.

In pursuit of the goal, Robison got pierced in the back and on both arms.

The piercing began about 10 a.m. March 18. Friend Ryan Cook did the piercing and will also end up in the record book.

His skin was penetrated repeatedly with a needle to allow insertion of stainless steel beads connected by Teflon strings.

The marathon piercing session ended about 14 hours after it began, with Robison sore and tired.

Though Robison was in pain, Guinness rules prevented use of pain relievers.

So, after the record was broken and pictures taken, the decorative piercing was removed.

While Robison is glad he pursued the record, he wouldn’t do it again.

It was simply too painful.

Cass Hulbert, co-owner of Pit, said she had some anxious moments while Robison was assaulting the record.

"I cringed several times. It was hard to watch," she said. "I don’t know any other human being that could have endured that."

Robison’s vital signs were monitored by registered nurses throughout the event, Hulbert said.

Documentation (including videotape) of Robison’s feat is expected to be sent to Guinness soon, she said.

Guinness did not respond to an e-mail request for information from The Pantagraph.

The video recorder used to record the feat was loaned by Rent-A-Center, Ottawa, where a manager, Kevin Price, said Robison’s feat has people talking.

"I accomplished something I wanted to do," said Robison.

Matt Robison

Age: 20

Residence: Ottawa

Occupation: Warehouse worker

Claim to fame: Pierced 1,016 times last weekend in an attempt to set a world record.

Compiled by Bob Holliday

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Reader comments on this story - 22 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

interested wrote on Mar 27, 2006 2:52 PM:

" is there no photographs of the event , id like to see how it looked "

? wrote on Mar 25, 2006 10:11 AM:

" The story does not impress me, but it need not. I agree the guy probably wants attention, but we all do at some point don't we? As far as the job prospects, who says the guy has to be employed by somebody? Maybe he'll start his own business next. If someone were to fire him for getting piercing when he already had some that were accepted, I think they may have a lawsuit on their hands? I thought this was America where people were entitled to do with their body what they see fit. I would wager more than one of the hecklers has some other image issue of their own, be it weight, skin color or their just plain ugly. I don't see the point in putting other people down in a public forum for no other reason than you don't agree with their personal choice. The Pantagraph's always a bit dry, this is Bloomington/Normal after all. "

warehouse worker wrote on Mar 25, 2006 8:17 AM:

" My mortgage payment is$859. "

me! wrote on Mar 24, 2006 10:01 PM:

" get a life "

Visitor! wrote on Mar 24, 2006 10:00 PM:

" Don't ever plan on ever getting another job. "

Response to warehouse worker wrote on Mar 24, 2006 8:08 PM:

" What is considered good money? In Ottawa, the average mortgage payment is 375 / month. "

Got a job? Good luck! wrote on Mar 24, 2006 4:37 PM:

" Well, the fact that you're from Ottawa explains a lot...at least you won't have to worry about being unemployed...that's pretty common around Ottawa these days...you'll fit right in. "

omg wrote on Mar 24, 2006 4:04 PM:

" I thought I "needed a life" Wrong!!! Now I remember why I retired from teaching. "

ditto wrote on Mar 24, 2006 3:57 PM:

" what a moron, and great job to the Pantagraph for reporting it. Cutting edge news (heh heh) "

To Nice wrote on Mar 24, 2006 3:46 PM:

" Maybe you need to go out and live a little! "

To: To Nice wrote on Mar 24, 2006 3:45 PM:

" Great comments! People so shallow and judgmental are my biggest pet peeve! Like those comments of Nice Warehouse worker good for you! "

warehouse worker wrote on Mar 24, 2006 3:00 PM:

" TO NICE: I am proud to say that I am a warehouse worker and I make really good money for it. If that is what he wants to do... so be it! "

To Nice wrote on Mar 24, 2006 1:53 PM:

" Why is he an idiot for doing what he wanted to do? And being a warehouse worker for the rest of his life would be just fine, but who are you to judge what someone does for a living. What do you do for a living? How closed minded of you to look down your nose at someone and make a comment like that. By the way I'm only an office worker...for life! "

rev wrote on Mar 24, 2006 1:33 PM:

" Body piercing saved my life. Isaiah 53:5 "He was pierced for our iniquities." Not sure Matt's will have the same effect. "

Nice wrote on Mar 24, 2006 1:16 PM:

" What an idiot. Occupation: Warehouse Worker, for life. No chance of upward movement. Must be a slow newws day... "

Visitor wrote on Mar 24, 2006 1:09 PM:

" I think it's kinda cool. I'd like to see one of you people do it and not want recognition from Guiness or other people. It's an ACCOMPLISHMENT for him so he feels proud and is sharing it with other people. I'm sure some of you on here have accomplished something and have had parties for it or told a lot of people about it. Sorry it didn't get in the pantagraph but you also probably didn't try to beat a world record. So don't be hypocrites people. "

uhh wrote on Mar 24, 2006 12:53 PM:

" ..what a moron "

record won't last wrote on Mar 24, 2006 12:47 PM:

" this record won't last more then a month or even a week. "

just another wrote on Mar 24, 2006 12:33 PM:

" GREAT article published by the pantagraph staff...seriously, what does one do with the knowledge of knowing how much this man peirced himself...i cant say i feel better knowing that! "

hahha wrote on Mar 24, 2006 12:32 PM:

" no kidding, starving! "

Mel wrote on Mar 24, 2006 12:08 PM:

" all i can say is "OUCH!" "

Starving?? wrote on Mar 24, 2006 11:56 AM:

" Starving for attention much?? What an accomplishment. "
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