For 70 years, Guinness World Records has served as the definitive authority on stunts, challenges, and insanely wacky tasks that people take part in to etch their name into their world-famous book of records.
The idea originated in the early 1950s when Sir Hugh Beaver, the managing director of the Guinness Brewery, found himself in a heated argument during a shooting party in Ireland over the fastest game bird in Europe.
In 1954, recalling this very argument, Sir Hugh came up with the idea of a Guinness promotion that helped settle pub disputes. He enlisted the help of twins Norris and Ross McWhirter, who were fact-finding researchers from Fleet Street, and on August 27, 1955, the first edition was published.
The book was an instant bestseller and took 13 and a half 90-hour weeks to compile, including weekends and bank holidays.
However, it never did answer the original question, with GWR stating that the red-breasted merganser would be the most likely answer.
To celebrate this significant 70th anniversary, Guinness World Records is not only reflecting on its decorated history but also looking to the future.
In a unique campaign, the organisation has unveiled a list of 70 brand new, unclaimed record titles that have never been set.
Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of GWR, said, “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.
“We’re now looking forward and celebrating the current – and next – generation of record-breakers."
Here is the full list of 70 records that have yet to be completed. How many do you think you can do?
- Farthest distance swimming in 24 hours (team)
- Farthest distance to bounce a coin into a cup
- Farthest standing jump forwards (female)
- Fastest 10 km three-legged (mixed)
- Fastest 10 m holding a balloon between the knees
- Fastest 400 m wearing swim fins (male)
- Fastest 400 m sack race
- Fastest 4x100 m egg and spoon relay race
- Fastest hole of golf by a team of two (male)
- Fastest relay 50 x 50 m (mixed)
- Fastest time to arrange a set of Scrabble tiles in alphabetical order
- Fastest time to blow a stamp 10 m
- Fastest time to build a castle in Minecraft survival mode with a mouse and keyboard
- Fastest time to build a five-storey playing card pyramid
- Fastest time to clear a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos (team of two)
- Fastest time to flip a tyre over 50 m
- Fastest time to flip ten water bottles
- Fastest time to ice/frost 100 cupcakes (individual)
- Fastest time to make a burrito
- Fastest time to make a loom band bracelet
- Fastest time to make a pasta necklace (Under 16s)
- Fastest time to push an orange 100 m with the nose
- Fastest time to ascend the height of Everest by bicycle
- Greatest height to drop an egg without breaking
- Greatest height to flip a bottle
- Highest coin toss
- Longest duration to balance a spoon on the nose
- Longest duration to keep a balloon in the air with the feet
- Longest duration to keep five balloons in the air
- Longest duration to keep five balloons in the air (team of two)
- Longest marathon playing air guitar
- Longest paperclip chain in one minute
- Longest paperclip chain in three minutes
- Longest time in a straight-arm abdominal plank position (female)
- Longest time to hold the bridge pose (yoga)
- Longest video game marathon playing Roblox
- Most alternate forehand/backhand hits with a tennis racket against a wall in 30 seconds
- Most anchovies eaten in one minute
- Most balloons blown up in one minute (Under 16s)
- Most cinemas visited in one month
- Most coffeehouses visited in one month
- Most coins balanced and snatched off the elbow (no drops)
- Most crown cap bottles opened with one hand in one minute
- Most drink cans crushed with feet in one minute (female)
- Most drink cans crushed with feet in one minute (male)
- Most eggs cracked in 30 seconds with one hand (team of two)
- Most eggs stacked in one minute
- Most fortune cookies eaten in one minute
- Most hair elastics (bobbles) in a person's hair in one minute
- Most headbands/sweatbands worn at once
- Most high fives in 30 seconds
- Most kisses in 30 seconds by a pair
- Most leapfrog jumps in one hour by a team of two
- Most leapfrog jumps in one minute by a team of two (Under 16s)
- Most origami cranes made in three minutes (Under 16s)
- Most seat drops on a trampoline in one hour
- Most shoelaces tied in a bow in one minute (team of two)
- Most stackable potato-based crisps eaten in one minute
- Most table tennis balls held in one hand
- Most treats balanced on a dog's nose in 30 seconds
- Most T-shirts put on in 30 seconds (individual)
- Most T-shirts put on in one minute (individual)
- Most water moved by the hands in 30 seconds
- Most water moved using a sponge in one minute (team of two)
- Most whoopee cushions sat on in one minute by a team of two
- Tallest stack of dice in one minute (team of two)
- Tallest stack of Guinness World Records books in 30 seconds (individual)
- Farthest distance swimming in 24 hours (team)
- Farthest distance to bounce a coin into a cup
- Fastest time to ascend the height of Everest by bicycle
