Basketball legend and TV presenter Charles Barkley was very unconvinced by the poor performance of a certain Anthony Miracola. The world record holder for the most successful three-point shots in one minute lost his nerve completely during the live broadcast of “The Dunk King” in a spontaneous shootout against former NBA player Kenny Smith.
Striving for a world record can be very important to people for a variety of reasons. First of all, holding a record often brings international attention and recognition. Many people crave validation and want to become famous. Records encourage people to also pursue their goals and work hard. There is usually only one record holder per category, which reinforces the feeling of exclusivity.
The desire for recognition and competition
To get into the Guinness Book of Records, you need to come up with a unique and interesting idea for a world record. Think about what you are good at or what is exceptional. This can be anything from athletic achievements to creative talents to completely unusual skills. There are a variety of categories. Once you have found a good idea, you should study specific guidelines for a record attempt.
The official application for recognition is usually done via the official website, where you have to fill out a form. If approved, you will receive an official confirmation and further instructions for your record attempt under the specified conditions. During this time, photo and video recordings should be able to prove the success. If your evidence is officially accepted, you will be recognized as a new record holder in the Guinness Book of Records and can even receive a certificate.
Particularly impressive records worldwide
1 Hafthor Bjornsson (known from “Game of Thrones”) was named the world’s strongest man in 2020 and set various records, including lifting 1104 lbs in the deadlift.
2. Usain Bolt holds the record with 9.58 seconds in the 100 meter sprint, set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
3. Aleix Segura from Spain stayed underwater for an insane 24 minutes and 3 seconds without a breathing apparatus in 2016.
4. The record for the longest throw of a baseball was set by Glen Gorbous in 1987 and is 148,61 yards.
5. Jiroemon Kimura from Japan lived to the proud age of 116, which is also some kind of achievement.
There are some world records that have stood for many years. One of them is Javier Sotomayor‘s high jump, which has remained unbroken since 1993 at 96,45 inches. One of the most consistent successes in the history of the Olympic Games is, for example, Michael Phelps‘ 23 gold medals in individual sports between 2004 and 2016. The heaviest defeat (0:31) in an official football match was suffered by America Samoa against Australia in 2001.
Absurd records with controversial entertainment value
1. Randy Gardner stayed awake for 11 days and 24 minutes, which had extreme physical and mental effects.
2. Lee Redmond once held the record for the longest fingernails in the world, which reached a total length of more than 315 inches.
3. In 2018, Aline von Keil needed just 14.5 seconds to run a distance of 100 meters in high heels.
4. Sandra L. Gill has the largest collection of garden gnomes, with over 2000 different pieces.
5. The record for the longest pizza in the world belongs to Dovilio Nardi, Andrea Mannocchi, Marco Nardi and Matteo Nardi, who baked a pizza measuring 1744 yards in length in 2012.
