[WATCH] Daniel Rush Breaks Four-Second Barrier With 3.82 African Record

Rush lowered his previous record by more than a second, became Africa’s first sub-four 3x3 solver, and moved to No. 27 in the world.

Daniel Rush recorded a 3.82 3x3 single at the 2026 WCA European Championship, setting a new African record and becoming the first competitor representing Africa to officially break four seconds.

The result came during the third round, where Rush finished with solves of (3.82), 6.59, (7.02), 6.57, and 6.67. His 6.61 average placed him 28th in the round, leaving him outside the 16-person final despite producing one of the competition’s most historically significant individual solves.

Watch the 3.82 African record below.

Rush’s previous African record was 4.86, recorded at Newcomers Cape Cube-Fest 2025. The 3.82 improves that mark by 1.04 seconds, an unusually large jump for an elite 3x3 record.

It also moves Rush to No. 27 in the world for 3x3 single, placing him between Riley Dexter’s 3.81 and Brenton Angelo Lo Wong’s 3.84.

The gap within Africa is even more striking. Christian Swartz ranks second on the continent with a 5.13, making Rush the only African competitor with an official sub-five single. His new record is 1.31 seconds faster than the next-best result.

The milestone also completes a major benchmark across the sport. Every WCA continental region now has at least one official sub-four 3x3 single, with Africa becoming the final region to cross the barrier.

Rush has gradually lowered Africa’s 3x3 standard while also establishing himself across the larger cube events. His WCA profile now includes African records in every standard cube event from 3x3 through 7x7.

He is also a two-time African 3x3 champion, having won the title at the continental championships in both 2022 and 2024.

The next WCA African Championship takes place September 24-27 in Cape Town, South Africa. Rush is listed as one of the competition’s organizers and will enter the championship with a continental record that has moved Africa into a new era of 3x3 solving.