This article was originally written by Tom Bevan for SWNS — the U.K.’s largest independent news agency, providing globally relevant original, verified, and engaging content to the world’s leading media outlets.
Guinness World Records is celebrating 70 years by recognizing some of the quirkiest and most jaw-dropping achievements from over the decades — including the largest Winnie the Pooh collection and the tallest dog ever, a handsome Great Dane named Zeus who stood at 44 inches tall.
The famed institution’s roots go back to a pub debate: “What’s the fastest game bird in Europe?” — a query that inspired its first book, compiled in a room above a London gym and published Aug. 27, 1955.
That single volume sparked worldwide curiosity about extraordinary feats, and Guinness World Records has since authenticated thousands of records in sports, technology, the human body, super skills, and more. (Just this week, it was revealed that Taylor Swift helped fiancé Travis Kelce and his brother, Jason, earn a record for her Aug. 13 appearance on their podcast.)
“We’ve seen so many iconic moments, the most amazing feats of strength and skill and endurance from talent across the globe and long may it continue,” Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday said in a news release. “We’re now looking forward and celebrating the current — and next — generation of record breakers.”
To mark the anniversary, the reference book checked in with some of its title holders who’ve been positively impacted by record-breaking in their lives.
Among them is Liz West, an artist from Manchester, England, who’s been collecting Spice Girls memorabilia since the band broke through in 1996 and holds the record for the largest haul.
Initially, a then-11-year old West was just collecting albums, magazines, and sticker books — but after a year of chart successes she began buying singles and tons of other official merchandise.
Her record was originally approved in 2011, when her extensive collection of Spice Girls memorabilia comprised 2,066 pieces, but she’s continued to build out her collection: On a recount this year, she had more than doubled it for a total of 5,000 items.
West’s own career as a successful visual artist has some crossover with her collection, as her color palette is inspired by the Spice Girls’ era.
“Holding the Guinness World Records title has allowed me to continue publicly exhibiting my collection nationally and internationally. In the early days of my career, my collection gave me the opportunity and ultimately allowed me to work full-time as an artist, which was always my dream,” she said in a press release. “Being part of Guinness World Records 70th anniversary celebrations is wonderful and a huge honor. To be chosen among all the records globally ever made is incredibly touching — girl power!”
Colin Furze, who also lives in the U.K., holds records for the fastest stroller — it reached a speed of 53.46 mph — and the fastest bumper car, which hit speeds of just over 100 mph.
He is recognized for bringing bold, unconventional ideas to life. “One of the things I always think is that a Guinness World Records title makes a project, no matter how crazy or weird, it kind of gives it a social relevance and people get behind you and want you to do well,” he explained. “I look at the certificates I’ve earned as achievements of the projects I have seen through from start to finish, I thought of it, planned it, built it, drove it, and it became record-breaking.”
Zaila Avant-Garde, 18, a student from Louisiana, holds the record for the most bounce juggles in one minute with four basketballs, clocking a total of 255.
She began practicing these basketball tricks at age 5, and when she attempted the record titles at 13, her effort and skill shone through.
“It’s empowering to know that you’ve just accomplished something that nobody else in the entire world has ever done before,” said Avant-Garde, who has broken three records. She added that her life has “significantly changed” because of the recognition.
“I was pretty much a random little kid in Louisiana who was a little known on Instagram for juggling basketballs and not much else,” she shared. “At that time, getting the record was simply a personal accomplishment of which I was deeply proud.”
Since earning her titles, Avant-Garde has gone on to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee, become a New York Times bestselling author with her book It’s Not Bragging If It’s True, and was named Sports Illustrated Kids’ 2021 SportsKid of the Year.
She said that her Guinness World Record titles propelled her to achieve these milestones and noted that being a record holder adds a “level of spiciness to my life story.”
Known as Spiderman to his friends and family, former American Ninja Warrior competitor Najee Richardson holds a total of five records for backflips and bar-to-wall swings.
Between years of gymnastics and strength training for the American Ninja Warrior obstacle course, he believed he had what it takes to earn multiple titles, all of which reflect specific skills he utilizes on the course.
“I think it’s really cool just to set a goal for yourself, a seemingly impossible goal that you can set for yourself to achieve,” Richardson said. “Something that pushes you past your limit and that you can become the very best version of yourself, whatever field you’re in.” He added that “having [a] Guinness World Records title as a motivation is cool, because you’re doing something that no one else has ever done before and how many people can say that?”
Bryan Berg, also from the U.S., holds the record for the tallest playing card structure — at 25 feet, 9 inches high. The architect first entered the record books in 1992 and hasn’t stopped leveling up card stacking since.
As he builds every house of cards without glue, wiring, or metalwork, each record Berg has achieved defies what was thought possible. He earned the title eight times between 1992 and 2007, taking it back twice within that time and reaching new heights with each build.
He was 8 when his grandfather first taught him how to stack cards between matches at card tournaments, and he was quickly inspired to build bigger structures, which continues to fuel his creativity and love for the craft.
“The tallest playing card structure is a testament to a certain kind of engineering that I really enjoy, every card is a strategic placement based on how I want it to look or how it needs to work,” Berg said. “Back in 1992, when I first achieved the record and got into the Guinness World Records book, it really paved the way for me to be able to basically spend my life doing what I love.”
Glenday expressed the institution’s desire to bring more people into the fold so they can experience the same kind of positive effects these record holders have. “We want everyone to be part of it, whether that’s using our new record selector tool or having a go at one of our 70 unclaimed records, they are there for the taking,” he said.
To inspire the next wave of achievers, Guinness World Records has identified 70 unclaimed record titles that have never been set. These include the fastest 400-meter sack race, farthest distance to bounce a coin into a cup, farthest distance bottle flip, the most headbands worn at once, and the most high fives in 30 seconds.
The institution also launched its brand-new Record Selector, a short online test that matches personality types to record titles they could attempt. Take the quiz here.
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