Impressive, unlikely and weird new Guinness world records

GUINNESS World Records celebrated its annual records day on Thursday, honouring a long list of people who have done highly improbable things better than anyone else.

The day often includes a Rubik’s cube solved in unlikely circumstances against the clock, and this year was no exception.

China’s Que Jianyu recorded the fastest time to crack the puzzle – upside down: 15.84 seconds.

The Harlem Globetrotters, the US stunt basketball team, generally fields a number of record-setters, or attempters. This year, one of them was Torch George, who managed the most underthe-leg tumbles, 32 – and at 1.6m tall, may also set a record as the most diminutive Globetrotter.

Under-the-leg tumbles are a sort of horizontal roll, supporting yourself on one hand while dribbling a basketball with the other hand, between your legs. Do not try this at home.

Another Globetrotter, Bull Bullard, managed to sink the world’s longest basketball shot released in the middle of a backflip, 17.71m. (A basketball court is 28.6m long.)

In a category all his own was Aaron Fotheringham of the US, who set three records: the tallest quarter pipe drop-in while in a wheelchair, 8.4m; highest wheelchair hand plant, also 8.4m; and the farthest wheelchair ramp jump, 21.35m.

Fotheringham launched himself down a ramp and flew more than 21m in a wheelchair. |