They came. They soared. They conquered on a day of world records

They came. They soared. They conquered on a day of world records
Bungee-jumping biscuit-dunking? Thousands go to extremes to get their names into the ultimate record book

They came. They soared. They conquered the most meaningless measures of human achievement the world has ever known, or is likely to know.

The past 24 hours have marked the 12th annual Guinness World Records Day. From bungee-jumping biscuit-dunking to the world’s shortest married couple, thousands of people around the world have gone to extremes to get their names into the ultimate record book.

Thrill-seeking, bungee-jumping, tea-loving Simon Berry, 24, from Sheffield, England, claimed the title for the highest bungee dunk by dipping a chocolate hobnob in a cup of tea at the full extension of a bungee jump measuring 73.41m.

Simon said: “This was insane, ridiculous and totally something I had to do. I have always wanted to be in the Guinness World Records book and this opportunity was too good to miss.”

Paulo Gabriel da Silva Barros (aged 31 and 90.27cm tall) and Katyucia Hoshino (28 and 91.14cm tall), from Brazil, have been verified at a combined height of 181.41 cm, to become the world’s shortest married couple. They tied the knot in September after meeting on social media 10 years ago.

Katyucia was initially unimpressed by Paulo so she blocked him. “The first time I started talking to Paulo, he was really annoying. He had cheap pick-up lines.”

Katyucia had a change of heart 18 months later. Their romance grew from there. Now they say they are like any other couple.

“The only difference that I see are things in public spaces,” Paulo explained. “For example, an ATM was made for people with normal height.”

Katyucia explained: “One of the difficulties I encounter is with the oven, the sink, the washing machine and opening a window and opening doors.”

Skipper, an eight-year-old blue and gold macaw, goes into the book for placing 19 rings on a target in one minute.

A Japanese team performed the most Double Dutch-style skips in 30 seconds: an astonishing 129. Keisuke Yokota, 31, balanced a staggering 29 traffic cones on his chin in Tokyo.

In Melbourne, fitness guru and Instagram star Kayla Itsines led an exercise class of 2217 people and achieved no less than five records – most people performing squats (2201); most people star jumping (2192); most people performing lunges (2146); most people performing sit-ups (2005) and most people running in one place (2195).

English magician Martin Rees, 28, performed 10 tricks and reached a speed of 193.12km/h on the freefall element of his 15,000ft dive above Salisbury, Wiltshire.

The Harlem Globetrotters basketballers set nine new records. Thunder Law claimed two, the farthest shot made while sitting and farthest shot made under one leg (17.91m and 15.98m respectively). Ant Atkinson and Cheese Chisholm could not be split in the most three-pointers in one minute (single ball) challenge, tied at 10 shots each.

Launched to celebrate the day the Guinness World Records book sold its 100 millionth copy, the day saw upwards of 600,000 people around the world attempting to secure their place in the book.

The annual event, celebrated since 2004, just keeps getting bigger.

Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, said the team receives more than 1000 applications each week, but only 5% to 8% end up being recognised.

Activities have to be legal and not harm others. They have to be the kind that can be measured and can be broken. And of course, they have to be interesting.

“We say all our records are officially amazing. So, yes they’re official, but they also have to be amazing,” Glenday said.

“Everyone has something inside that’s probably superlative, it’s just about finding it. We want to celebrate that.”

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