Gordo Gamsby laughs as his two-year-old son balances on his hands.
It looks comfortable and relaxed by a river in North New South Wales.
He is far from his previous life touring the world as an extreme acrobatic and circus performer, swallowing swords, pulling a car with his tongue and juggling fire.
His career spans about 20 years and 36 countries, and he has achieved 13 Guinness World Records for his strength and manipulation.
Gordo Gamsby has spent years touring the world as a performer on side shows. (ABC Mid North Coast: Emma Siossian)
“I feel very fortunate to have gone to the places I have and met the people I have,” he said.
“Those who liked the crowd would include most of the apples cut from my mouth with a chainsaw in a minute.
“I also have the strongest language in the world.”
Gamsby holds the Guinness World Record for the heaviest weight thrown with the tongue: 132 kilograms.
He used a hook through his tongue to pull his assistant while sitting in a low-load cart.
Gamsby said a video clip of him towing a 1,053kg car with a hook through his tongue had not yet been verified by Guinness World Records.
A circus life
Gamsby’s passion for the circus was aroused when Slippry Sirkus visited his high school. (Supplied by: Fat Gamsby)
Gamsby’s unusual career began when he was a teenager in Port Macquarie, on the north central coast, and the circus came to town.
Gordo Gamsby has “the strongest language in the world.” (Supplied by: Fat Gamsby)
“The non-profit organization Slippry Sirkus came to our school and did circus workshops for school sports,” he said.
“It really connected with me, more than just football or regular sports, and it took me on my journey to where I am now.”
It took him years to perfect some of his boldest feats and he says all things just need practice.
“I take great risks when I do stunts, it’s all very well thought out,” he said.
“It took me about two years to swallow a sword comfortably to the point where I could do it.
Gamsby says it took him years to learn how to comfortably swallow a sword. (Supplied by: Fat Gamsby)
“I’ve trained all the muscles in my esophagus, up to my throat, so I can use these usually involuntary muscles and open and close them voluntarily to allow a blade to slide down my throat without hurting me. no injuries “.
Juggling family life
Gordo and Lucy are embracing family life in Port Macquarie with their son Spike. (ABC Mid North Coast: Emma Siossian)
After achieving international success, Gamsby has returned to where it all began, moving to his hometown of Port Macquarie to focus more on family life with his wife Lucy Gamsby Frost and his son. Spike.
Ms. Gamsby Frost is originally from the United Kingdom and the couple met in Western Australia while touring as circus performers.
Gordo Gamsby pulls apples out of his mouth with chainsaws. (Supplied by: Fat Gamsby)
“My husband’s actions are really amazing; I’m very proud of him,” Gamsby Frost said.
“Sometimes it scares me a little when he cuts apples out of his mouth with a chainsaw, swallows swords, or juggles fire, but it’s all great.”
They have now adopted a slower pace of life, replacing extreme performances on stage to juggling paternity demands.
“It’s definitely a different lifestyle, not being a touring artist,” Gamsby said.
“I’ve spent the last 20 years bouncing around airports around the world, I’ve performed in 36 countries around the world.
“Being a parent is definitely a different challenge.”
Gordo and Lucy are excited to share parts of their circus life with their son Spike. (ABC Mid North Coast: Emma Siossian)
However, they have brought with them elements of their previous life.
They have launched a new arts festival in Port Macquarie called Tortuga, featuring artists from around the world.
“We realized there was nothing like what we do at Port Macquarie,” Gamsby Frost said.
“So we wanted to bring all of our favorite acts to the city so we could share these amazing events that we’ve been doing for so long with everyone here.
Gordo and Lucy have created a new art festival in Port Macquarie, located inside a large Spiegel store. (ABC Mid North Coast: Emma Siossian)
“It’s very different with a little kid. Life on tour isn’t really ready for a 2.5-year-old … and we’re excited to share with him what our life was like before.”
Gamsby said it was exciting to see the festival become a reality.
“It’s very exciting … I’ve wanted to do a festival here for a long time, since I was a teenager,” he said.
Gamsby hopes the festival will become an annual event and has not ruled out further Guinness World Record attempts in the future.
The new Port Macquarie Arts Festival is expected to become an annual event. (ABC Mid North Coast: Emma Siossian)
Circus tricks may also be performed in the family.
Young Spike balances in his father’s hands and watches as the festival performers perform stunts.
There is certainly no pressure.
Gamsby and his son Spike. (ABC Mid North Coast: Emma Siossian)
“My only hope for him is to find what he would like to do … I don’t care if he’s an accountant, every circus needs a good accountant,” Gamsby said with a laugh.
“It wouldn’t change my life much; I feel incredibly lucky … so I don’t care what you do as long as you follow your passions.”
Young Spike enjoys doing his own “trick”. (ABC Mid North Coast: Emma Siossian)