Max Park, a 21-year-old Korean-American from Cerritos, California who lacked fine motor skills, as a symptom of his autism, emerged as the world’s fastest Rubik’s cube solver, setting a new world record of solving the cube in just 3.13 seconds.
According to NPR, Max faced motor skill difficulties during his preteen years as a result of autism, making even simple tasks like unscrewing a water bottle cap a challenge for him. Now, Max can solve a Rubik’s cube faster than most people can read a sentence.
During a recent competition in Southern California on June 11th, Max astounded the speedcubing community by setting a new world record for the fastest 3x3x3 Rubik’s cube time, clocking in at a mind-boggling 3.13 seconds. Matthew Dickman, the senior delegate for the United States and Canada at the World Cube Association, described Max’s achievement as the “holy grail of records.”
Max’s journey began at the age of 9 when he developed an interest in the Rubik’s cube. His mother, Miki, took the initiative to learn how to solve it herself through YouTube tutorials. Within a mere couple of days, Max solved the puzzle effortlessly. This newfound passion for cubing led him to participate in his first speedcube competition in downtown Los Angeles at the age of 10.
The popularity of speedcubing has surged in recent years, with over a dozen competitions held worldwide each weekend and a registered base of over 140,000 cubers from 140 countries. These events encompass various challenges, ranging from blindfolded solves to one-handed techniques.
However, the original 3x3x3 cube remains the centerpiece of the sport, attracting the most skilled competitors who have mastered hundreds of algorithms to conquer the puzzle. The speedcubing scene has become increasingly competitive, with participants continually pushing the limits, often beating their rivals by mere fractions of a second.
Schwan, Max’s father, said that his success gives a sense of hope for the parents too, that their child can find something they’re passionate about and it will help give them a sense of purpose.
As Max continues to break barriers, his impact extends far beyond solving a puzzle. His achievements serve as a symbol of determination, resilience, and the boundless potential that lies within each of us.
Featured Image Source: NPR
