Guinness World Records, in theory, are amazing and seemingly unattainable. The record holders are astoundingly strong or fast or otherwise able to push the limits of human ability. Over the years, though, these world record categories have become increasingly bizarre - and I’m not just talking about people with abnormally long fingernails. Some of these records are incredibly specific, while others just prompt questions about the record holder’s sanity. The following 11 records only scratch the surface of the weirdness recorded by Guinness World Record judges. If you’ve always wanted to have your name attached to a world record, though, the wide variety of options represented here might just give you some ideas...or some hope.
1. The fastest half-marathon pushing a pram
This record is one to shoot for if you don’t want to let parenthood slow you down. The female record is currently held by Nancy Schubring of the United States. She completed the half-marathon in 1 hour, 30 minutes, and 51 seconds.
The male record is 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 8 seconds, held by Neil Davison of the United Kingdom (UK).
If you’re not a parent and still want to attempt a bizarre running record, you can always practice running in a full suit, running wearing scuba-diving flippers, or running in several other strange fashions.
2. Most toilet seats broken by the head in one minute
You have to wonder who came up with some of these records. Usually the head and the toilet seat are not the most compatible elements, except when stereotypical high school bullies are involved. The record for most wooden toilet seats broken in a minute with the head is 46. The record is held by Kevin Shelley of the United States. See the video here.
3. Most rotations hanging from a power drill in one minute
This feat would require a great amount of upper body strength - and it’s much more extreme than boring weight lifting. Still, I don’t think it would be the best idea to try this one at home. The current record is 148 rotations in a minute, achieved by The Huy Giang of Germany.
4. Heaviest weight lifted by…
Apparently, upper body strength isn’t enough for some. There are Guinness World Records for weight being lifted by many different body parts, the most bizarre of which are seemingly delicate parts of the human head.
The heaviest weight lifted by tongue is 12.5 kg (27 lb 8.96 oz). Thomas Blackthorne of the UK holds this record.
The heaviest weight lifted with one ear (using a clamp) is 80.78 kg (178 lb 14.4 oz). This record is held by Rakesh Kumar of India.
5. Full body ice contact endurance
No offense to this record setter or anyone else who may attempt this in the future, but anyone who has spent a winter somewhere with snow should know how stupid this idea is. I suppose if you can put all thoughts of frostbite and hypothermia aside...nope, it’s still pretty crazy!
This record is held by Wim Hof of the Netherlands for spending 1 hour, 52 minutes, 42 seconds in direct, full body contact with ice. Hof (in the above video) was also featured in the Discovery Channel's Extraordinary People series.
6. Fastest time to burst three balloons with the back
This record certainly requires that you have amazing flexibility. Honestly, though, how do you discover that this is one of your talents? Julia Gunthel, aka “Zlata,” of Germany holds this record, taking only 12 seconds to burst three balloons with her back.
7. Most watermelons chopped on the stomach in one minute
If you’re curious, the cutting implement used to chop the watermelons was a machete. That just makes this feat even more terrifying. The record is 25 watermelons in one minute, achieved by two Australians. Jim Hunter was the watermelon chopper and Celia Curtis provided her stomach as the cutting board.
8. Most T-shirts removed while heading a football
Yes, by football they mean soccer ball. Apparently this is what some people use their soccer skills for when they can’t make it professionally. Who knew? The record is 21 shirts and is held by Marcelo Ribeiro da Silva of Brazil.
If you don’t have the soccer skills to break this record, or would rather put shirts on than take them off, you could go for the record of most T-shirts worn at once. The current record of 257 might be tough to surpass, though.
9. Most steps walked by a dog balancing a glass of water
Don’t worry! Your pets can be world record holders, too. If your dog regularly helps you set the dinner table, this might be the record to shoot for.
Sweet Pea, an Australian Shepherd/Border Collie, currently holds both records in this category. Sweet Pea has walked a record 10 steps up going backwards and 10 steps down going forwards while balancing a glass of water.
10. Loudest purr by a domestic cat
If all of the cat lovers out there were feeling left out, don’t be. There’s also a record for your pet to break, as long as they don’t have a problem audibly expressing their love for you.
The loudest purr recorded by a domestic cat is 67.7 dB, which is held by Smokey. According to the Guinness World Record website, “Smokey is a domestic cat and achieved its record in its home, where it felt relaxed and happy. Accessories used during the record attempt include a grooming brush, slices of ham and stroking by hand.”
11. Longest distance pulled by a horse (full-body burn)
This one may just take the cake for the most bizarre. Neither part of this record - being dragged by a horse or being set on fire - seems at all appealing. Maybe this just goes to show the lengths people will go to get their name in this book.
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