All the action from around the globe on GWR Day: bicycle flips, quad bike stunts and more
Guinness World Records Day is always a big one for us!
People all around the globe come together to break records so we can celebrate all the things that make each one of us special and unique.
This is our 21st annual GWR Day, and this year more than ever, we’ve been encouraging people to Be Part Of It by breaking a world record.
In the USA, Jessica L. Martinez from New York City broke the record for largest afro with measurements of 29 cm (11.42 in) tall, 31 cm (12.2 in) wide, and 190 cm (6 ft 2.87 in) in circumference.
Her hair is so big it took three people to measure it.
In the UK, three records were broken on the roof of iconic London venue The O2, the very place where we’ll open our brand-new entertainment venue, Guinness World Records: London, in late 2026.
Made in Chelsea star Josh Patterson broke the record for the fastest time to climb and descend The O2 with an incredible 4 min 40.79 sec.
Jodie Ounsley, aka Fury from Gladiators, broke the record for the most weight moved by sandbag carry in one minute (female) - 360 kg (793.66 lb).
And ex-GB gymnast, Lucie Colebeck broke the record for the most standing backwards somersaults in 30 seconds (female) with 17.
Here’s what’s been happening around the rest of the world…
China
By Echo Zhan
Liu Haoran, 13, from Shenzhen, China is a professional BMX freestyle rider who broke the Guinness World Records title for the highest bicycle backflip with a height of 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in), surpassing the 2.8-metre record held by British rider Ben Wallace since 2010.
A dominant figure in China’s youth BMX scene, Liu has won multiple national and international titles, including the FISE World Series (Shanghai) and four consecutive championships in the China BMX Freestyle League. In 2023, he earned recognition as a National Master Athlete, marking him as one of the brightest young talents in the sport since BMX became an Olympic discipline in 2020.
Lu Ping, China's excavator virtuoso claimed the title for the fastest time to stack five hex nuts using an excavator with a time of 1 min 26 sec. With 15 years of experience and 920,000 followers online, he showcases astonishing feats of precision to prove that heavy machinery can master delicate tasks. He believes in turning passion into perfection.
Japan
Over in Japan, GWR Day celebrations got underway in a fantastic (or CAN-tastic) manner, by inviting a special record-breaking guest.
His name is Shunichi Kanno, and he's once again attempted the record for most drink cans placed on the body using air suction. Back in 2020, he claimed the title by placing 20 cans on his body. And this GWR Day, he was back for more.
Although his practice session was a little shaky, with cans dropping from his body, the official attempt went like a dream. Shunichi was able to place 25 cans on his head and body.
Manami Ito also demonstrated her skills as the first violinist with a full prosthetic arm.
The musician plays the violin with a bow attached to her prosthetic arm and uses her shoulder blades to move the bow. She is also a Paralympic swimmer and competed in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and 2012 London Paralympics.
UAE
Imagine being upside down on a moving quad bike and still balancing a football for long enough to break a Guinness World Records title. That’s exactly what Ammar Ahmed Alkhudhiri achieved.
A three-time UAE Football Freestyle Champion, Middle East Freestyle Football Champion, winner of the International Ubhouse Freestyle Football Challenge, and ranked among the WFFA Top 16 globally for three consecutive years (2013–2015), Ammar marked GWR Day this year with 23 football sole touches on a moving quad in 30 seconds alongside Abdulla Saeed Alhattawi, claiming the record for most football sole touches on a moving quad bike in 30 seconds (team of two). He is also the holder of the most consecutive football touches with the feet while paragliding and several other records.
Samer Madi, a fitness content creator from Lebanon, set a new Guinness World Records title for the longest duration to maintain a straddle human flag position on a flying helicopter, holding the pose for 21 seconds at Rene Mouawad Airport. Although he pursued the challenge as a personal milestone, his preparation was remarkably inventive.
Without access to a helicopter for training, Samer practised on a moving truck, gradually increasing speed and height, and added weighted variations using 5 kg and 10 kg plates to build strength and stability. For the official attempt, every detail was meticulously planned and he even consulted engineers to ensure the setup and safety measures met the required standards.
But that is not all for the MENA region this year, here is a list of all records broken for GWR Day 2025:
- Most hammers broken by hand in 30 seconds - Yaser Zyad (Jordan) with a total of 5
- Most 360 spins hanging by the teeth in 30 seconds - Yazan Ghaiyath Saleh (Syria) with a total of 65
- Most 360 spins hanging by the teeth in one minute - Yazan Ghaiyath Saleh (Syria) with a total of 112
- Longest duration balancing on four fingers whilst in a wheelchair - Abdel Rahman Makluf (Jordan) with a time of 30.51 sec
- Most muscle ups in a wheelchair in one minute - AbdelRahman Makluf (Jordan) with a total of 9
- Fastest time to cover 1 km while juggling a football (soccer ball) - Hamed Ali AlShehhi (UAE) with a time of 7 min 13 sec