Auldin midway through stacking jenga blocks

Auldin Maxwell

Age: 15
Home country: Canada
Special skill: Jenga block stacking

Hi guys, I’m Auldin and I have a very unique passion – stacking Jenga blocks! I've broken 2 world record titles and my story even inspired a Christmas movie… I still can’t believe it all really happened, it feels like a dream. 🤩

Auldin laying in a pile of Jenga blocks

How it all started…

I’ve always wanted to break a record!

But I never really thought I could do it, at least not while I was a kid.

But I had 1-2 Jenga sets, and I just started building different designs and coming up with stacking ideas.

I discovered that it was quite easy for me. 😎

So after doing some stacking, I came across videos of different Jenga block records…

I realized that I had enough Jenga blocks to attempt to break the most Jenga blocks stacked on 1 vertical Jenga block record.

And that’s how my amazing journey of record breaking began!

My journey of record breaking

I broke 2 world records:

  • Most Jenga blocks stacked on one vertical Jenga block – 1,840 
  • Most Jenga GIANT blocks stacked on one vertical Jenga GIANT block – 900

To prepare for each attempt, I first clear my head by riding my unicycle or playing basketball with my stepdad. ⛹️

And during the attempts, I always listen to music because it helps me focus.

When a tower topples over or I feel like it’s about to collapse, I take a break to reset my mind, pretending that I never built that tower. 🧠

It helps me to find a fresh perspective! 

Jenga is not just a game. It’s an engineering challenge that allows endless creativity.

Auldin Maxwell

Auldin kneeled staking blocks

The challenges...

Breaking a world record comes with its challenges, of course!

When I read the official rules, I realized that...

I had been practising the WRONG way all along. 😱

Basically, I was stacking while holding 3 blocks in each hand, but once we applied and read the official guidelines, I saw that you had to stack 1 block at a time.

I immediately wanted to give up!

Luckily, my mum encouraged me to try the new way and I mastered it within a few weeks. 

Lesson learned – never give up on your dreams! ✨

Auldin smiling with finished attempt

Fun facts about me

Beyond Jenga stacking, some other hobbies of mine are:

  • Basketball 🏀
  • Unicycling 
  • Bowling 🎳
  • Cubing
  • Playing strategy crib games

When I grow up, I want to be a basketball player or an actor!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Find an activity that suits your abilities, practise and be patient with yourself. Don’t give up because dreams can come true!

Auldin Maxwell

Auldin standing next to finished attempt

A World Record Christmas

My story inspired the Hallmark movie A World Record Christmas, that I even appeared in! 😮

In the movie, Charlie – an autistic boy just like me! – tries to break a Jenga world record, with his family and town raising money for kids with autism along the way! 🎄

And even though I’m not a professional actor, I was given a small role in it – it was fantastic!

The cast and crew were incredibly kind and treated me like a celebrity. 

I will never forget that experience!