split image of fastest time to identify all national flags

Meet 16-year-old Hassan Dawy from Lebanon who has showcased his love for flags and geography by setting the world record for the fastest time to identify all national flags.

He was able to identify all the world’s national flags in 4 minutes flat, in Beirut, Lebanon.

Dawy only beat the previous record by a mere 6 seconds!

@gwrarabic

أسرع وقت لتحديد جميع الأعلام الوطنية 🌎 4 دقائق من قبل حسن ضاوي (لبنان)

♬ original sound - Guinness World Records Arabic

This record is currently sparking a friendly competition in the region, with the last three records being set in the Middle East.

Adam Saeed (Bahrain) held the record twice in 2021 and, incredibly, achieved the record-breaking times on the same day! 

He first completed the feat in a time of 4 minutes and 24 seconds. Then, he decided to challenge himself one more time and set the record again with a time of 4 minutes and 6 seconds. Adam was also only 16 when he achieved the record. 

"I spent the majority of the summer of 2021 practising to achieve this record," said current record holder Hassan. 

"I recall giving up at some point when the record was broken again by 18 seconds and reaching the mark of 4 minutes and 6 seconds. The job became much harder."

Behind the record: this record was attempted using the popular quiz site sporcle

"Later in the summer I went back to practice, I couldn’t just let it go."

Hassan is very passionate about geography, an interest that started at a very young age.

Hassan Dawy during his record attempt

He was also a big fan of Guinness World Records and saw the attempt as his way of merging his two passions.

"I have owned every Guinness World Records book since 2013, I am now living my dreams."

After spending all summer practising and attempting the record more than 1,000 times, it was finally time for Hassan to pick the fruits of his labor.

"I made it into the history of record-breaking achievements! I can’t describe my happiness right now."

Hassan is an honours student currently in the 11th grade, studying at a school in the capital city of Lebanon, Beirut.

"I will be back with many more record attempts to come."

"I am proud to say, I now belong to the family of record breakers."