NEWS
Unbelievable Feats: 20+ Guinness World Records You Never Knew Existed
Pinterest
Since 1955, Guinness World Records has been tracking everything from the oldest living person to the largest pumpkin ever grown. Believe it or not, in recent years, the record-keeping service has expanded its qualifications to include some pretty bizarre records that almost seem orchestrated by one obsessed individual looking to accomplish something. However, this doesn’t make the feats any less marvelous. Whether it’s the biggest group to ever do one thing or someone accomplishing something so obscure you couldn’t even dream it up on your own, these achievements are truly something to behold. These are the most mind-boggling Guinness World Records that almost don’t seem real but very much are.
Record-Breaking Onion
Guinness World Records
In England, farming conditions seem to be ideal for growing large onions. Pete Glazebrook not only won a local competition but also set a Guinness World Record with his colossal onion, which weighed an astounding 17 pounds. This impressive achievement is remarkable, although cutting such a giant onion might be a daunting task.
Record-Breaking Hula Hoopers
Guinness World Records
In February 2013, the Guinness World Record for the most people hula hooping simultaneously was set at Thammasat University stadium in Bangkok, China. An impressive total of 4,483 participants gathered, all dressed in pink, to achieve this feat. The event was remarkably well-organized considering the large number of people involved in such a confined space.
Largest Bounce House
Guinness World Records
Ever dreamed of jumping in the world’s largest bounce house? You’re in luck! The biggest bounce house, known as Big Bounce America, tours across the United States. Founded by Grahame Ferguson and Cammy Craig, this inflatable giant spans 11,433 square feet. Best of all, it’s not just for kids!
Most Expensive Dessert
Guinness World Records
How much would you guess the most expensive dessert in the world would cost? Well, if you predicted $25,000, you’re correct, but you probably wouldn’t have guessed it would be the Frrrozen Haute Chocolate from Serendipity-3 located in New York. As you can see from the picture, the gold chocolate flakes and presumably top-notch dairy quality is something of a splurge, to say the least.
The Widest Tornado Path in History
Guinness World Records
Tornadoes are no joke, and if you’re anywhere near Tornado Alley in the center of the U.S., you know this all too well. Residents of Oklahoma are particularly familiar with these destructive storms, as they experience frequent touchdowns during storm season each year. On May 31, 2013, Oklahoma witnessed the widest tornado ever recorded in history. This massive tornado expanded to over 2.6 miles in diameter and may have contained the highest winds ever documented. However, the severity of the storm made it difficult for technology to obtain precise readings.
Tent Dragon
Guinness World Records
Do you and 899 of your closest friends all have a blue tent? If so, you’re in luck! You can replicate the world record-setting dragon that was created on a beach in Qingdao, Shandong province in China back in 2012. This impressive feat was accomplished during the Chinese celebration of the Year of the Dragon. While it may seem peculiar and quite niche, you have to admit that it is a cool gesture and image.
Cork Art
Guinness World Records
Saimir Strati, an Albanian artist, specializes in creating giant murals entirely out of corks. He holds the Guinness World Record for the largest piece ever made with corks. His masterpiece, titled “Romeo with a crown of grapes playing guitar while dancing with the sea and the sun,” measures 42.5 by 23 feet and consists of 229,764 corks. Strati dedicated 14 hours a day for 28 days to complete this monumental work.
Heaviest Sword Swallowed
Guinness World Records
Sword-swallowing is such a common feat that records for it are quite specific. In fact, there’s even a record for the ‘heaviest’ object swallowed in this manner. Thomas Blackthorne holds this title as he managed to swallow a turned-on Dewalt jackhammer weighing a total of 83 pounds, 12 ounces, and held it for over 3 seconds. This achievement is not only astonishing but likely very painful as well!
Largest Swimsuit Shoot
Guinness World Records
Australia, known for its famous beaches, delivered a remarkable Guinness World Record. In 2007, Bondi Beach became the site of the largest swimsuit photoshoot, with 1,010 women participating. It must have been an exhilarating event, though finding oneself in the crowd photo might have been quite a challenge.
Longest Fingernails
Guinness World Records
If you’ve been searching for the person with the longest fingernails, look no further than Chris ‘The Duchess’ Walton from Las Vegas, Nevada. She dedicated 18 years to growing her nails without trimming them, resulting in a length of 10 feet, 2 inches on her left hand and 9 feet, 7 inches on her right hand. We certainly have questions.
Aerial Tightrope
Guinness World Records
For thrill-seekers who enjoy the challenge of walking on extremely narrow surfaces at great heights, this world record is a true feat. Chinese stuntman Samat Hasan achieved this remarkable record by walking on a rope with a diameter of just 1.2 inches, set at a steep 39º gradient, and spanning a distance of 2,300 feet (700 meters). This accomplishment represents the largest and most challenging distance ever attempted at such a height. Realistically, it’s hard to imagine why the average person would even want to take on such an endeavor!
Oldest Salsa Dancer
Guinness World Records
Paddy Jones, known globally for being the world’s oldest professional salsa dancer, has captured the hearts of many, including those who watched her on Britain’s Got Talent. At 88 years old, she continues to dazzle audiences with her remarkable skills. Her dance partner, Nico, is 40 years her junior, yet together they form an incredible duo, participating in numerous competitions internationally.
Largest Suitcase Unveiled in Guangzhou
Guinness World Records
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Export Commodities Fair in Guangzhou, China, creators revealed the world’s largest piece of luggage. The enormous orange suitcase stands at 5 feet 9 inches tall, 3 feet 9.3 inches wide, and 1 foot 6.1 inches deep. Clearly, this isn’t fitting on any airplane, and you would need several helping hands to carry it. Nevertheless, it’s an impressive sight.
Tallest Mohawk
Guinness World Records
There are many people with cool hairstyles out there, but perhaps none cooler, and surely none taller, than that of Japanese fashion designer Kazuhiro Watanabe. His mohawk reaches an astonishing height of 3 feet, 8.6 inches. Realistically, this means he’s walking around just short of 10 feet in total height from mohawk to toe, so we can imagine some difficulties in his daily life.
World’s Largest 3-D Painting
Guinness World Records
To witness the world’s largest 3-D painting, you need to visit London, specifically Canary Wharf. This incredible artwork, crafted by Joe Hill, showcases a stunning waterfall and dramatic cliffs with small ledges, covering an impressive area of over 12,000 square feet.
Masking Time
Guinness World Records
In 2013, Taipei City, Taiwan saw a record-breaking event where 1,213 skin care enthusiasts simultaneously applied facial masks and wore them for 10 minutes. Although this activity was part of their daily routines, participating in a public cleansing event must have felt uniquely enjoyable for everyone involved.
Largest Synchronized Lottery Scratch-Off
Guinness World Records
In one of the more unusual yet achievable world records, the Idaho Lottery set a new Guinness World Record for the largest synchronized lottery scratch-off. A total of 479 participants gathered to commemorate the organization’s 30th anniversary. While promoting gambling may not always be advisable, scratch-offs are generally more affordable and pose less risk.
Bee Weight
Guinness World Records
Looking for more nightmare fuel? Well, look no further than Beekeeper She Ping from China, who allowed a whopping 73 pounds of bees to cling to her body, which blew away a previous record that stood at 59 pounds. This must be what beekeepers do in their free time, but some would say this may be a little bit over obsessive of your job. But all the more power to She Ping.
Beauty Treatment
Guinness World Records
As we observed from the start, a common theme with Guinness World Records is the large number of people participating in the same activity simultaneously. In another instance from China, 1,000 women received a 30-minute facial while gathered inside a sports arena in Jinan. This event also involved 1,000 estheticians, making the group of 2,000 individuals the largest assembly to give and receive facials in a single location, at the same time.
Longest Cigar
Guinness World Records
Both of the world’s longest cigars were rolled by the same man from Cuba, Jose Castelar Cairo. The tobacco reached a length of 268 feet and 4 inches, nearly spanning a football field. Due to its size, it had to be displayed in an old Spanish fort called El Moro. It was rolled as part of the International Tourism Fair held in Cuba every year, where they showcase their expertise in this craft, among many others.
Longest Car in the World
Guinness World Records
The American Dream is a massive 100-foot (30.5-meter) limousine created by merging two Cadillac cars. Constructed in 1992, this extraordinary vehicle earned a Guinness World Record for its incredible length. The limousine features 26 wheels, two engines, and is designed to drive either in a straight line or bend in the middle. Initially, it required two drivers to operate, especially to simplify reverse maneuvers.
Magnetic Spoons
Guinness World Records
You wouldn’t ever think there’d be such a thing as a record for most spoons on a human body, but lucky for you, there is. And that record is held by none other than Etibar Elchiyev, who is from Tblisi, Georgia. Elchiyev affixed 53 spoons to his body, which he claims to have strong magnetic properties. Not everyone is convinced, though.
Chainsaw Juggler
Guinness World Records
In one of the more ‘absolutely do not try this at home’ records, Milan Roskopf takes home the prize for man who’s juggled motored chainsaws the longest. And that total result was a successful 62 times in a row, which seems increasingly harder to believe the more you think about it. He also shattered his own previous record of 35. The Slovakian made his country proud.
World’s Largest Sneaker Collection
Guinness World Records
Introducing Jordan Michael Geller, the proud holder of the world record for the largest sneaker collection. Geller has established his own museum in Las Vegas, aptly named Geller’s Shoezeum, where visitors can explore his extensive assemblage. The collection predominantly pays tribute to Nike, featuring nearly 3,000 pairs, with only eight exceptions. Additionally, Geller possesses every model of Air Jordans ever created, a collection that by itself could be worth tens of millions of dollars.
Record for Most Big Macs Eaten
Guinness World Records
In a category that many might not aspire to lead, Donald Gorske proudly holds the Guinness World Record for consuming the most Big Macs in a lifetime. His total has now surpassed 32,400 Big Macs, having had one nearly every day for the past 50 years. Gorske credits his good health to his daily walking routine. Remarkably, he has reduced his intake from nine Big Macs a day to just two, averaging about 14 Big Macs per week.
Largest Rubber Band Ball
Guinness World Records
Joel Waul embarked on a mission to build the largest rubber band ball ever, determined to achieve a Guinness World Record. He meticulously used 700,000 rubber bands of various sizes to create what he named ‘Megatron,’ a massive ball standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighing an incredible 9,032 pounds.
Longest Handshake
Guinness World Records
Got 12 and a half hours on your hands? Jack Tsonis and Lindsay Morrison did, as they surpassed the world record with a handshake lasting 12 hours and just over 30 more minutes. They achieved this for a good cause, raising money for charity during their attempt. Furthermore, they performed the feat on the United Nations’ International Day of Peace, showcasing the lengths someone can go to demonstrate friendship.
Most Bridesmaids
Guinness World Records
It’s likely you’re going to have, or literally be the richest bride ever to break this world record, because we can only imagine the expenses. Nisansala and Nalin, who hail from Sri Lanka, broke a previous record set by a Thai couple when they had 126 bridesmaids be a part of their wedding day. That wasn’t all, as they also had 25 best men, 20 page boys, 23 flower girls and clearly a whole lot of other family members.
Longest Sung Note
Guinness World Records
Richard Fink IV, a vocal educator with over twelve years of experience, dedicated 168 days of practice under various conditions to prepare for the most significant achievement of his career. He successfully sang a continuous ‘C’ note for an impressive 1 minute and 53 seconds, surpassing the previous Guinness World Record by just one second, illustrating the immense difficulty of this accomplishment.
Record-Breaking Chant
Guinness World Records
In Frisco, a Dallas suburb, a Hindu Hanuman temple achieved the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous chant. Under the guidance of Hindu spiritual leader Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, a total of 582 participants chanted for an impressive duration of 24 hours, 10 minutes, and 8 seconds. It’s hard to imagine how well they must have slept afterward!
Snow Man
Guinness World Records
Jin Songhao from China set a unique record by being the first person to maintain full-body contact with snow for an impressive 46 minutes and 7 seconds. Remarkably, he managed to enjoy a meal and a drink during this icy challenge.
Monkey Run
Guinness World Records
You may not know that there is a Guinness World Record for the fastest 100m run by a human on four legs. Surprisingly, the record-holder, Kenichi Ito, developed his unique running style by studying the African Patas monkey. Spanning nearly two decades of practice, Ito set an impressive record time of 16.87 seconds, surpassing his previous record of 17.23 seconds.
Aquarium Peaks
Guinness World Records
Situated on Sentosa Island in Singapore, the S.E.A. Aquarium is recognized as the world’s largest aquarium. It houses an astounding 42.9 million liters of water, featuring over 800 diverse species and a total of 80,000 animals. Notably, the aquarium holds another Guinness World Record for the largest acrylic panel, befitting its status as the largest aquarium with the largest tank.
Longest Float
Guinness World Records
You surely don’t see a parade like this every day. If you attended the Lantern Festival in Gutian Township, China, you’d think everyone in town was part of a single float. We’re talking about the ‘dragon march,’ which features thousands of people carrying planks of wood that connect the decorated bamboo and paper mache, resembling the world’s longest dragon. It is the largest float on record, measuring 2,596.8 feet!
Longest Plank
Guinness World Records
Do you believe you have the physical and mental fortitude to hold a plank position for even 1 minute? For the majority of us, this can be quite challenging but still within reach. Despite its seemingly simple nature, planking demands you to balance on your forearms and toes, engaging your core intensely and quickly draining your energy. However, this was not the case for ex-marine George Hood. The American set an astonishing record by maintaining the plank position for 8 hours, 15 minutes, and 15 seconds, which is equivalent to a full day’s work for many. This level of strength is beyond most people’s imagination.
Largest National Flag
Guinness World Records
Romania holds the record for the largest national flag. The immense flag was so large that it needed to be photographed from an airplane, spread out across a farm’s field. Measuring an impressive 1,146 feet in length and 744 feet in height, the flag was displayed in Clinceni, a town just outside Romania’s bustling capital, Bucharest.
Oldest Tattooed Woman
Guinness World Records
Meet Isobel Varley from Spain, who became the world’s most elderly tattooed woman after getting inked at the Expotattoo fair in Gijon, northern Spain. As a septuagenarian, she has certainly seen a lot, as evidenced by the vast amount of art covering her body. Continuing this practice, and even finding space for more tattoos, certainly takes dedication.
Steepest Coaster
Guinness World Records
Unsurprisingly, the world’s steepest roller coaster is situated in Japan, west of Tokyo, at the Fuji-Q Highland amusement park in Fujiyoshida. Named Takabisha, this coaster features a free-fall angle of 121°, an inversion that guarantees a mix of thrill and fear. The construction of Takabisha cost approximately $30 million.
Largest Lincoln Logs Structure
Guinness World Records
If you played with Lincoln Logs as a kid, you’re familiar with their snap-in pieces, allowing you to craft all sorts of building types. Well, the Popadynec family took their building hobby to a whole new level, setting the Guinness World Record for the largest single structure created from the popular toy. They constructed an Empire State Building model, which stood over 18 feet in height.
Record-Breaking Bark
Guinness World Records
This remarkable accomplishment, though adorable, must have been quite surprising for the owners when they discovered their dog’s unique talent. Charlie, an amazingly vocal golden retriever, has been recognized by both Purina and Guinness World Records for having the loudest bark, reaching 113.1 decibels.
Largest Ball Pit
Guinness World Records
For those seeking to reignite their inner child, the world record for the largest ball pit would have been an ideal destination. Located at the Kerry Hotel in Pudong, Shanghai, this massive ball pit was part of an event aimed at raising awareness and promoting breast cancer prevention. It featured a staggering 1 million balls filling an 82 ft. by 141 ft. swimming pool. For individuals with claustrophobia, the sheer size of this ball pit might have seemed daunting.
Ice Wine Flute
Guinness World Records
Looking for arguably the single easiest way to become inebriated? Take a stroll down to the Niagara Icewine Festival, where back in 2011, the Marynissen Estate and 29 other Ontario wineries contributed 27 liters of ice wine into a four-foot-tall flute. This achievement is pretty cool, especially as a collaboration effort, but it certainly begs the question – what exactly did they do with all that wine?!
Record-Breaking Fried Rice in Costa Rica
Guinness World Records
In 2013, Costa Rica showcased its love for fried rice by bringing together 52 chefs to cook the largest single serving of Cantonese fried rice ever, weighing 3,000 pounds. This monumental culinary effort fed over 7,000 people, making it both an impressive feat and a significant community event.
Champion Cable Walker Freddy Nock
Guinness World Records
Many may be unaware that tightrope walking up cable car ropes to mountain peaks is a daring feat, with enthusiasts vying for world records. Freddy Nock, a Swiss stuntman, stands as the reigning champion in this thrilling endeavor. He achieved this remarkable feat by walking up the cable car path of Germany’s tallest mountain, located at the southern Bavarian resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. His ascent on Zugspitze covered a total distance of 9,718 feet along a rope that stretched for 3,264.4 feet.
100-Year-Old Cycler
Guinness World Records
Impressive athletic achievements often go unrecognized outside the Olympics, but there are certainly feats worth celebrating. One such example is Robert Marchand, a cyclist who set the world record for the distance covered in an hour by an athlete over the age of 100. The Frenchman achieved this feat by covering 15 miles at a 200-meter indoor velodrome in Switzerland. Born in 1911, Marchand set this record in 2012 at the age of 100.
Sumo Suit Run
Guinness World Records
If you were ever wondering who and where they set the record for the most people running in sumo suits, you would find that the record was set in London back in 2010 when over 200 people participated in a 5K run to raise money. The race took place at Battersea Park, and there have been numerous attempts in other countries around the world since then. Probably not something you’d do in any kind of heat.
Longest Music Solo
Guinness World Records
In an extraordinary musical feat, Kuzhalmannam Ramakrishnan from Kerala, India, achieved the record for the longest continuous solo performance. The mridangam drum player performed non-stop for 501 hours, which is equivalent to 21 days. This remarkable accomplishment was made possible with the aid of technology.
Biggest Ornament
Guinness World Records
It probably goes without saying that nobody in any normal circumstance is going to be able to use this practically, but Franz Paternosta doesn’t care, because he had his sights set on the Guinness World Record. He artfully managed to create the largest glass Christmas tree decoration ever recorded for his glassblowing company Joska in Bavaria, Germany. It weighed in at 44 pounds and had a diameter of 25.6 inches.
