Yesterday marked the 11th annual Guinness World Records Day and it proved to be one of the most exciting yet as people from all over the globe attempted some truly amazing and awe-inspiring feats.
The day was kicked off with an incredible attempt from multiple record holder and stunt drive specialist Alastair Moffatt, who earned a record for the Tightest parallel parking in reverse after squeezing a classic Mini Cooper into a space just 34 cm bigger than the vehicle itself.
Taking place at Brooklands, UK, the birthplace of British motorsport and aviation and the First motor racing circuit, Alastair performed a dramatic J-turn, then a handbrake turn, to slot into an impossibly tight space.
Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief, Craig Glenday said: “What Alastair has achieved today encapsulates everything about Guinness World Records Day – Our parallel parking records are always hotly contested and his demonstration of skill, precision and dedication to achieve such a difficult record is really inspirational stuff. I can barely park in an empty field…”
But arguably the most talked about story of the day came from a skateboarding bulldog.
In Lima, Peru, Otto glided into the record books with a triumphant attempt at the Longest human tunnel travelled through by a skateboarding dog, all in honour of GWR Day.
The 3-year-old pooch valiantly skated through the legs of 30 humans, who all faced the same direction and stood with their feet apart to allow the talented English Bulldog to pass freely through the human tunnel without being led or touched.
As many as 650,000 other budding Guinness World Records title hopefuls from across the world took part in GWR Day 2015, with successful attempts rolling in from Germany, USA, Japan, China, Peru, UK, India, Australia – and more.
In the US, the exhibition basketball team The Harlem Globetrotters celebrated the occasion by notching up seven impressive world record titles including the Longest basketball shot made blindfolded (21.18 m), Longest duration spinning a basketball on the nose (7.7 secs) and Most basketball slam dunks in one minute (15), achieved by Thunder Law, Scooter Christensen and Zues McClurkin respectively.
Videos and full story: Watch The Harlem Globetrotters score seven amazing records in honour of GWR Day 2015
Next in was a record from Japan, as Kenichi Ito reclaimed his title for the Fastest 100 m running on all fours, with an astonishing time of 15.71 seconds.
Thirty-three-year-old Kenichi usurped the title from Katsumi Tamakoshi (Japan), who scurried into the record books on GWR Day 2014.
Full story: Watch Japan’s Kenichi Ito scamper to GWR Day success with fastest 100 m running on all fours
In Germany, Benedikt Mordstein smashed his own record for the Fastest time to type a text message (SMS) on a mobile phone while performing head spins (breakdance).
Benedikt typed out a 38-character German proverb, whilst spinning on his head, in a dizzy speed of 56.65 seconds.
Over in Mumbai, India, serial record breaker Dinesh Upadhyaya broke his own record for the Most lit candles in the mouth, stuffing 15 flaming candles an holding them there for 30 seconds, with no support from his hands or other body parts.
He also set records for the Most toothpicks rotated in the mouth simultaneously (49), Most grapes stuffed in the mouth (88) and Most matchsticks extinguished with the tongue in one minute (30).
Elsewhere in the world, there were other new Guinness World Records titles achieved for:
USA
Marine Corp veteran Guy Valentino concluded his attempt for Most pull ups in 24 hours, completing 5,862 reps in New York, USA live on television in honour of both GWR Day and Veteran's Day (11 Nov). A nail biter, the fitness enthusiast surpassed the previous record of 5,801 pull ups with only 12 minutes to go.
China
The Largest lipstick sculpture contains 18,399 lipsticks, measures 303 cm in height and was achieved by Agne Kisonaite (Lithuania) and sponsored by WTCmore (HK) in Hong Kong, China, in celebration of Guinness World Records day 2015.
Australia
In Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Anthony Kelly (Australia) grabbed a record for the Fastest tennis ball caught, with a speed of 192.9 kmh (119.86 mph).
The Most pine boards broken in one minute (female) is 219 and was achieved by Summerly Coxon (Australia).
Bree Kirk-Burnnand whirled into the record books with a successful attempt at the Most hula hoops spun simultaneously, with 181.
For a full recap of the day’s event check out yesterday's the live blog (now closed), which gave updates from the many record attempts from around the world as they happened.
