Kelsey never thought such an unusual talent would be useful or that she would ever hold a world record. “The most common phrase I've heard about it is not that the movement itself is gross, just the ease at which I turn it.” “Most people are grossed out and fascinated at the same time,” said Kelsey. However, not everyone’s reaction is immediately positive. “Once everyone saw, they were sure I could break the current record.” “When I told everyone that I was trying they immediately would ask to see,” said Kelsey. Kelsey’s talent has proven to be particularly useful in her ice-skating career because she can turn around and look behind her without moving her feet, allowing her to be very aware of her surroundings. However, she insists that it feels completely natural. Kelsey says her special talent doesn’t hurt, although she can sometimes feel it slightly in her knee and might need to rotate her foot a bit slower. “I honestly didn't realise how abnormal it was.” “I always knew I was flexible there but had assumed most people could turn their foot farther than 90 degrees out,” she said. “But I thought I could no matter the details.” AdvertisementsĪlthough Kelsey didn’t necessarily practise or prepare for the record attempt, she figure skates as a hobby and is constantly stretching her flexibility. “I didn’t know the details about how the measurement needed to happen,” said Kelsey. Kelsey tried rotating her foot while standing on a piece of paper and realised it was pretty obvious that she had a good chance at smashing the record. “Naturally I looked over her shoulder and said, ‘I think I can do that.’” A coworker was flipping through and randomly opened to the page with the largest foot rotation and said ‘ew! That's so gross,’” said Kelsey. “I work at a library and the newest world record book (2021) had just come out. The 32-year-old of Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, has the largest foot rotation (female) and can turn her foot 171.4 degrees.īut how does one recognize they have such a unique talent? Advertisements Kelsey Grubb has put her best foot forward and broken a record that not many can achieve.

Guinness book of world records 2023