The one thing that we have continued to seek as humans is the ability to live a longer life. In these contemporary times, we are living longer than ever. This is due to the great innovations in the medical field. Before, something as simple as a cold would have killed us. Now?
It’s just an inconvenience that lasts just a week or so. Vaccines, and other amazing innovations have made living longer better than ever. Now that we are living longer, our priorities of living have changed. Before, when life ended around 30, people were getting married and having children in their teens and never bothered with anything more. Today, people are going to college and managing their careers, ensuring that they are financially stable before starting a family. This has led to people starting their families much later, thanks to the ability of living a longer life. Today, people are living to be well over 100 years old and living longer than a century. The stories that these people tell could write dozens of books. As time goes on, we will likely start seeing more people pushing the limits of longer living. But for now, the people in this video have set records and pushed the envelope as they have gained a sense of immortality because they have lived longer than any of us so far. Some of these people’s stories are inspiring as they have survived incredible odds that should have killed them, but instead, they are the living symbol of resilience.
Who? Sultan Kosen, What? 251 centimetre(s) Where? Turkey Ankara, When? 09 February 2019 The tallest man living is Sultan Kösen (Turkey, b.10 December 1982) who measured 251 cm (8 ft 2.8 in) in Ankara, Turkey, on 08 February 2019.
The part-time farmer was the first man over 8 ft (2.43 m) to be measured by Guinness World Records in over 20 years.
Indeed, GWR only knows of 10 confirmed or reliable cases in history of humans reaching 8 ft or more.
Sultan first became the world's tallest living man in 2009, when he measured 246.5 cm (8 ft 1 in) in height.
He took the title from Xi Shun (China, b. 1951), who measured 2.361 m (7 ft 8.95 in) in height when measured in 2005.
Sultan also holds the record for largest hands of a living person, each one measuring 28.5 cm (11.22 in) from the wrist to the tip of the middle finger.
He previously held the record for largest feet on a living person, with his left foot measuring 36.5 cm (1 ft 2 in) and right foot measuring 35.5 cm (1 ft 1.98 in).
Speaking at the time of his entry into the Guinness World Records family he said: 'I never imagined I would be in the book, I dreamed about it, but it was still a huge surprise'.
Sultan's growth and massive height caused by a condition known as "pituitary gigantism", which is the result of an over-production of growth hormone. Growth hormone is released from the pituitary gland in the brain; if the gland is damaged by, say, a tumour, it can release too much (or too little) hormone. The effects of over-production includes large hands, a thickening of the bones, and painful joints.
Sultan didn't start his incredible growth spurt until he was 10 years old. But he finally appears to have stopped growing. Revolutionary gamma-knife surgery on the tumour affecting his pituitary gland, provided by the University of Virginia, USA, in August 2019, has finally halted his production of growth hormone.
Sultan is one of five siblings, with three brothers and one sister. The rest of his family, including his mum and dad, are all 'normal' sized.
Because of his extreme height he was never able to finish school but works occasionally as a farmer to support his family.
He describes one of the advantages of being tall as being able to help out his mum out with jobs such as changing a broken light bulb and hanging curtains.
Disadvantages to his height he lists include not being able to find clothes or shoes that fit or finding it extremely hard to fit into a regular size car.
Like every young man in their twenties, Sultan enjoys listening to music, playing computer games and watching movies.
What are the giant's dreams for the future? "I want what everyone else wants," says Sultan. "A wife, a family, a nice home. I'd also like the chance to find some decent clothes that fit! I've already had a suit made for me, and at least one dream has come true: I now own a pair of jeans made specially for me!"
Who? Joel Miggleri, Where? Germany Küssaberg, When? 27 November 2019
The most flesh tunnels in the face is 11 and was achieved by Joel Miggler (Germany) as verified in Küssaberg, Germany, on 27 November 2019.
Joel's flesh tunnels has a size ranging from 3 to 34 mm.
Guinness World Records caught up with Joel to find out what drew him to the “holey” grail of body mods…
When did you first become interested in flesh tunnels? It started when I was 13 years old and I had a flesh tunnel in my earlobe. I really liked it and, step by step, I’ve come to this!
Do you have any difficulties eating or drinking? No, I don’t have any problems. I can only take small bites, though. …and how about kissing? No, not really! My girlfriend also has a big “labret” [a lip piercing], but kissing is only a little bit harder.
Tell us about the process of creating the tunnels in your cheeks.
First, we made a little cut through my cheeks of around 10 mm and pushed the Teflon jewellery in. After three months of healing, we cut it to 18 mm; that took about a month to heal. Then I stretched it again for 1 mm each month until I got to 22 mm, before cutting to 30 mm. Now I’m aiming to stretch to 40 mm [they currently measure 34 mm], which will be my limit. The man who carries out my mods did a medical apprenticeship in the military and has carried out extreme modifications for eight years. I trust him with my whole body. He is highly trained. He needs to be, as it’s a very complicated process to cut through the cheeks. It’s really dangerous to cut the salivary glands.
How long does the pain tend to last during the healing process?
The cuts are painful for about a week, but they don’t hurt after that.
German-born Joel Miggler has more stretched piercings than anyone else in the world and has achieved the Guinness World Records title for Most flesh tunnels (face).
He has flesh holes fitted with expanders all over his face, including his nose and lips, but the largest two are in each of his cheeks and measure a daunting 34 mm … so far. He has plans to increase them to 40 mm.
The 22 year old is proud of his uniqueness, and confesses that body modification has become a bit of an addiction since he started at the age of 13 with a “normal” fleshy in his earlobe.
Joel says he experiences a week of pain after his extremely skilled professional body mod artist creates a new or wider tunnel, but as soon as it has healed he starts thinking about the next one.
He would even like to get an eye-ball implant in the future. Watch the video below to see what Joel says about his Guinness World Records title, as well as what he can do with a strawberry lace. Joel’s unparalleled body mods appear alongside loads of record-breaking flesh tunnels, piercings and tattoos in Guinness World Records 2019: out now.
Who? Kalawelo Kaiwi, What? 10.5 centimetre(s) Where? United States Hawaii, When? 14 April 2019 The largest flesh tunnel (earlobe) is 10.5cm (4.14 in) and was achieved by Kalawelo Kaiwi (USA) as measured at the Hilo Natural Health Clinic in Hawaii, on 14 April 2019.
Whilst there are widely reported claims of larger flesh tunnels, tattoo and body-mod artist Kala has the largest fully verified flesh tunnels. They are about the diameter of a teacup, and big enough to fit a clenched fist through.
In addition to the flesh tunnels, Kala also sports tattoos, piercings, subdermal horns and a bifurcated (split) tongue.
Who? Karl-Heinz Hille, What? 8 times, Where? Norway Trondheim, When? 01 January 2019 The most wins at the World Beard and Moustache Championships is 8 and was achieved by Karl-Heinz Hille (Germany). From 1999 to 2019, Hille has been competing in the Imperial partial beard category. His most recent success was in Trondheim, Norway, in 2019.
Hille won the Imperial Partial Beard category at the following six world championships: 1999 (Ystad, Sweden); 2003 (Carson City, Nevada, USA); 2005 (Berlin, Germany); 2007 (Brighton, England); 2009 (Anchorage, Alaska, USA); and 2019 (Trondheim, Norway). In addition he was the overall champion at the 1999 and 2003 championships.
There is no official measurement as the competition is based on criteria governing impressive styles.
Bundaberg AirportAustralian Frank Gaffiero, driving Bandag Bullet, a Kenworth T400 truck powered by two V8 diesel engines, achieved an average speed of 182.152 km/h (113.184 mph) over 1 km at Bundaberg Airport, Queensland, Australia, on 16 July 2005 for Guinness World Records.
This Guinness World Record literally takes your breath away! A total of 70 people gathered at world-famous Stonehenge in Wiltshire, UK, to simultaneously blow fire from their torches on 6 September 2004. The event was filmed for Guinness World Records: 50 Years, 50 Records, televised on 11 September 2004.
DO NOT TRY THIS WITH YOUR DAD'S CAR! British stunt driving legend Russ Swift performed 10 donuts (360º spins) in 16.07 seconds in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII on the set of Guinness World Records: 50 Years, 50 Records, in London, UK, on 11 September 2004.
This is one Guinness World Record that will surely bring tears to your eyes! Englishman Brian Duffield ate an entire raw onion in 1 minute 29 seconds on the set of 'Lo Show Dei Record' in Milan, Italy on 5th January 2006.
If you're thirsty and time is against you...! This Guinness World Record relies on pure brute strength. Manuel Rubio Rubio (Spain) managed to crush 59 full cans with his hands in a minute on the set of El Show de los Récords in Madrid, Spain on 23 October 2001.
This Guinness World Record is true motorcycle madness! American Trigger Gumm, a member of Australia's 'Crusty Demons' motocross team jumped an awesome 84.5 m (277 ft 4 in) on a Honda CR500 on at the Queensland Raceway in Queensland, Australia on 14 May 2005.
This guy has got the skillz! Amadou Gueye kept the football aloft for an amazing 30.29 seconds on the set of L'Emission Des Records in Paris, France on 7th September 2001.
Ever wonder who is the tallest person in the history of your country? In this list we show who the tallest person in history is, for 30 different countries from all over the world. From "El Charro Gigante" in Mexico, to the "Alton Giant" in the U.S. and more....
List Lineup: Felipe Manzo Reyes (Mexico) 7 ft 6.5 in 2.30 cm Manute Bol (Sudan) 7 ft 7 in 2.31 cm Gheorghe Muresan (Romania) 7 ft 7 in 2.31 cm Jorge Gonzalez (Argentina) 7 ft 7 in 2.31 cm Miguel Joaquin de Eleicegui (Spain) 7 ft 8 in 2.34 cm Rafael Franca do Nascimento (Brazil) 7 ft 8 in 2.35 cm Angus MacAskill (Ireland) 7 ft 9 in 2.36 cm Ondor Gongor (Mongolia) 7 ft 9 in 2.36 cm Yoshimitsu Matsuzaka (Japan) 7 ft 9.3 in 2.37 cm Naseer Soomro (Pakistan) 7 ft 10 in 2.38 cm Grgo Kusic (Croatia) 7 ft 10 in 2.38 cm Feodor Machnow (Belarus) 7 ft 10.3 in 2.39 cm Sa'id Muhammad Ghazi (Egypt) 7 ft 10.5 in 2.40 cm Alexander Sizonenko (Russia) 7 ft 10.5 in 2.40 cm Felipe Birriel (Puerto Rico) 7 ft 11 in 2.41 cm Suparwono (Indonesia) 7 ft 11.3 in 2.42 cm Zhang Juncai (China) 7 ft 11.3 in 2.42 cm Jean-Joseph Brice (France) 8 ft 0.5 in 2.45 cm Suleiman Ali Nashnush (Libya) 8 ft 0.5 in 2.45 cm Gabriel Estevao Monjane (Mozambique) 8 ft 1 in 2.46 cm Morteza Mehrzad (Iran) 8 ft 1 in 2.46 cm Julius Koch (Germany) 8 ft 1 in 2.46 cm Brahim Takioullah (Morocco) 8 ft 1 in 2.46 cm Patrick Cotter O'Brien (Ireland) 8 ft 1 in 2.46 cm Vikas Uppal (India) 8 ft 2 in 2.49 cm Sultan Kosen (Turkey) 8 ft 3 in 2.51 cm Vaino Myllyrinne (Finland) 8 ft 3 in 2.51 cm Edouard Beaupre (Canada) 8 ft 3 in 2.52 cm Leonid Stadnyk (Ukraine) 8 ft 5 in 2.57 cm Robert Wadlow (USA) 8 ft 11.1 in 2.72 cm
Who? Robert Wadlow, Where? United States Alton, Illinois, When? 27 June 1940
The tallest man in medical history for whom there is irrefutable evidence is Robert Pershing Wadlow (USA) (born 6:30 a.m. at Alton, Illinois, USA on 22 February 1918), who when last measured on 27 June 1940, was found to be 2.72 m (8 ft 11.1 in) tall.
Wadlow died at 1:30 a.m. on 15 July 1940 in a hotel in Manistee, Michigan, as a result of a septic blister on his right ankle caused by a brace, which had been poorly fitted only a week earlier.
He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Alton in a coffin measuring 3.28 m (10 ft 9 in) long, 81 cm (32 in) wide and 76 cm (30 in) deep.
His greatest recorded weight was 222.71 kg (35 st 1l b) on his 21st birthday and he weighed 199 kg (31 st 5 lb) at the time of his death.
His shoe size was 37AA (47 cm (18.5 in) long) and his hands measured 32.4 cm (12.75 in) from the wrist to the tip of the middle finger.
He wore a size 25 ring.
His arm span was 2.88 m (9ft 5.75 in) and his peak daily food consumption was 8000 calories.
At the age of nine, he was able to carry his father Harold F. Wadlow (d. September 1967) later Mayor of Alton, who stood 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) and weighed 77 kg (170 lb), up the stairs of the family home.
His last words were 'The doctor says I won't get home for the....celebrations' (a reference to his paternal grandparents golden wedding).
Billy Leon and Benny Loyd McCrary What? 337/328 kilogram(s) Where? United States, When? 01 November 1978
Billy Leon (1946–79) and Benny Loyd (1946 - 2001) McCrary, alias McGuire (USA), were normal in size until the age of six. In November 1978, Billy and Benny weighed 337 kg (743 lb or 53 st 1 lb) and 328 kg (723 lb or 51 st 9 lb) respectively, and each had waists measuring 2.13 m (84 in).
As professional tag wrestling performers they were billed at weights up to 349 kg (770 lb or 55 st).
Born 7 December 1946, Billy died at Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada of heart failure, after a fall from a mini bike, on 13 January 1979. Benny died of heart failure on 26 March 2001.
