Celebrate International Women's Day with all these record-breaking women who outdid men

This weekend marks International Women’s Day 2026, and although we feel women should be celebrated each day, we thought that we would look back at some of the amazing ladies who’ve outdone their male counterparts in the world of record breaking.

Cycling into the record books

Between 29 June 2019 to 18 March 2020, Rachael Marsden and Catherine Dixon (both UK) cycled their way into record-breaking history by completing the fastest circumnavigation by tandem bicycle (female).

The pair set off from Oxford, UK, then cycled through many different countries including France, Albania, Thailand and Mexico to name a few. In total, their journey lasted 263 days, 8 hours and 7 minutes, and the pair cycled between 80-100 miles on average per day and occasionally completed 120 miles in a day.

They cycled on the tandem bike they named “Alice” and listened to lots of audiobooks on their journey to keep themselves motivated. In total, they managed to raise £31,400 (£37,265 including Gift Aid) and made it into Guinness World Records history! 

The pair told us: "Each country was different and we were privileged to meet some amazing and incredibly supportive people en route... the kindness of strangers was amazing all over the world."

These amazing women didn’t only claim the women’s record but also beat the men’s one too! The record for fastest circumnavigation by tandem bicycle (male) was completed on 16 May 2019 by Lloyd Edward Collier and Louis Paul Snellgrove (both UK) in 281 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes.

Running each day to make GWR history

On 5 November 2022, Candice Burt (USA) showed that women have a gift for endurance by beginning her record-breaking attempt for most consecutive days to run an ultra marathon distance (female).

With 13 years of ultra marathon experience already under her belt, Candice was in a good position to break the record. 

Before beginning her attempt, she had set a goal to complete 100 consecutive ultra-distance runs but managed to double that goal before deciding to finish. On 23 May 2023, she had successfully smashed the record with a total of 200 consecutive days ran. 

The men’s record doesn't come close. Between 27 September and 15 December 2025, Sam King (UK) broke the record for most consecutive days to run an ultra marathon distance (male) by running a total of 80 days in a row. 

300 miles of amazing running feats!

Another incredible running record was awarded to Courtney Dauwalter (USA) on 2 September 2023 when she set the Guinness World Records title for first completion of ultrarunning’s “Triple Crown”.

So, what is the triple crown? It is when a runner wins three prestigious 100-mile races. Between 24 June and 2 September 2023, Courtney won the Western States 100, the Hardrock 100 and the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. 

In the space of just 70 days, she had covered 310.7 miles (500 kilometres) and 25,500 metres (83,660 feet) of elevation gain, which would be the equivalent of climbing Everest 10 times!

Courtney has another two Guinness World Records titles, one for fastest run Western States Endurance Run (female) which took her 15 hours, 29 minutes and 33 seconds, completed on 24 June 2023, and another for fastest run Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run (female) which she completed on 13 July 2024 with a time of 26 hours, 11 minutes and 24 seconds. 

What a true powerhouse of talent in the running world!

Find more stories like this in our Sports and Fitness section.

10 years of hula-hooping success

On 21 May 2016, Heather Bray (Canada) broke the Guinness World Records title for fastest time to hula hoop 10 km (female).

With a determination to break the record, Heather started her preparation in November 2015, with running training and abdominal exercises to strengthen her core muscles. After six months of training, she attempted the record and successfully managed to run the 10 km whilst hula hooping in a total of 52 minutes, and 27 seconds.

The male version of this record is held by Ashrita Furman (USA), who did it in 1 hr 25 min 9 sec.

Still after almost 10 years, no one has managed to beat Heather’s record, but her own appetite for record breaking didn’t stop there.

On 17 November 2019, Heather then went on to set the Guinness World Records title for fastest marathon dressed as Elvis (female). The attempt took place at the Humana Rock 'N' Roll Marathon in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, and she completed the run in 3 hours and 13 minutes, also placing first place in the women’s category.

Climbing her way to the top! THREE records for Viridiana

Viridiana Álvarez Chávez (Mexico) is no stranger to a Guinness World Records title, as she has three of them!

She achieved her first one on 15 May 2019, when she set the record for fastest ascent of the top three highest mountains with supplementary oxygen (female). For this record attempt, Viridiana climbed Everest (8,848 m; 29,029 ft) on 16 May 2017, the K2 (8,611 m; 28,251 ft) on 21 July 2018, and the Kangchenjunga (8,586 m; 28,169 ft) on 15 May 2019.

In the space of 1 year and 364 days she completed her record, and this was her first time making into the record books.

Next on Viridiana’s climbing list was to set the record for first female to climb the 14 8,000ers and the Seven Summits. She completed this record over a longer period of time, beginning on 4 January 2015, and completing it on 12 October 2024.

She told GWR: “My career as a mountaineer started with an unusual and inspirational purpose: a simple personal challenge to exercise, but I ended up giving up my office job; risking comfort to experience the magic of the mountains."

Then came her most recent feat; fastest time to climb Julianatop (female). The Julianatop mountain located in the Sipaliwini District, Suriname took Viridiana 4 days, 4 hours and 7 minutes to climb. 

She began her ascent on 3 September 2025 and had completed it on 7 September 2025. After her incredible effort and determination, Viridiana even made it into the GWR Hall of Fame!

The male version of this record is currently unclaimed.

More amazing women

Here are some more women who have bettered men in their record-breaking adventures:

• Most hula hoop spins around the bum in three minutes (female) - 453 by Andrea M. (UK) compared to 290 by ObaRoEne Otitigbe a.k.a "Mr.O!" (USA)
• Most wins of the UCI Road Race World Championships (female) – 5 by Jeannie Longo-Ciprelli (France) compared to 3 by five different riders
• Most wins of the World Marathon Majors races (female) - 12 by Grete Waitz (Norway) compared to 9 by Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya)

• Fastest bicycle speed in slipstream (overall) - 296.009 km/h (183.931 mph) by Denise Mueller-Korenek (USA)
• Most Wimbledon titles won by a woman - 20 by Billie-Jean King (USA) and equalled by Martina Navratilova (USA) compared to 13 by Laurie Doherty (UK)
• Oldest person to swim the Oceans Seven - Elizabeth Fry (USA) at age 60 years 301 days

We loved looking back at some incredible women who have cycled, climbed, and even hula-hooped their way into Guinness World Records history, and we can’t wait to see what these women do next!