Guinness World Records 2013 - quick byte

Guinness World Records 2013

Here are eye-popping images of the biggest, fastest, longest, weirdest and wackiest record breakers recognized in 2012 and featured in the 2013 edition of “Guinness World Records.”

Youngest investment banker

John Wang Clow of the United States became a licensed investment banker at the age of 17 years and 77 days. Born on May 23, 1994, Clow passed the Investment Banking Representative Qualification Examination (Series 79) administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority on Aug. 5, 2011 and got his license on Aug. 8, 2011.

Smallest helicopter

In terms of rotor length, the world's smallest helicopter is the GEN H-4 made by Gen Corp. of Japan. The diminutive whirlybird has a rotor length of 13 feet, or 4 meters, and it weighs just 154.32 pounds, or 70 kilograms. It has one seat, one landing gear and one power unit. Unlike traditional helicopters, it has two sets of coaxial contra-rotating rotors, which eliminate the need for a tail rotor for balancing. Gennai Yanagisawa is pictured here maneuvering the helicopter over the city of Matsumoto in Japan.

Shortest bull

The shortest bull in the world is Archie, a 16-month-old Dexter bull that is fully registered in the Northern Ireland livestock inventory in County Antrim. Archie measured 30 inches, or 76.2 centimeters, from the hoof to the withers on Nov. 22, 2011.

Largest collection of Barbie dolls

A little girl's dream: As of October 2011, Bettina Dorfmann of Germany had 15,000 different Barbie dolls in her possession. Dorfmann began building her collection in 1993.

Most piercings on the face

The world record for most piercings on the face goes to Axel Rosales of Argentina. As of Feb. 17, 2012, Rosales had 280 facial piercings.

Tallest living dog

In the name of Zeus! Zeus the Great Dane stands 44 inches, or 1.118 meters, high. The world's tallest dog is owned by Denise Doorlag of Otsego, Mich.

Most slam dunks by a parrot in one minute

Polly wanna shoot some hoops? Zac the macaw made 22 basketball slam dunks in one minute on Dec. 30, 2011 in San Jose, Calif.

Heaviest rideable bicycle

Tour de France riders might not want to use this one: The world’s heaviest rideable bicycle weighs 1,650 pounds, or 750 kilograms. Wouter van den Bosch of Netherlands built the bulky bike, and it was ridden in Arnhem, Netherlands in May 2010.

Longest basketball spin on a toothbrush 
The longest duration spinning a basketball on a toothbrush is 26.078 seconds, set by Michael Kopp in Hamburg, Germany, on Nov. 14, 2012.

Highest forward flip on a pogo stick

The record for the highest forward-flip pogo stick jump is 8 feet, achieved by Xpogo athlete Michael Mena in Stamford, Conn.

Most people in a Mini

The record for most people crammed in a modern Mini is 28, achieved by Dani Maynard and her team in a Mini Hatch at Potters Field, London, on Nov. 15, 2012. They exceeded the previous record by one person. Four people were squeezed into the trunk.

Largest chocolate coin

The largest chocolate coin weighs 1,450 pounds, measures over 6.4 feet in diameter, and is nearly 7 inches thick. It was created by the master chocolatiers at the Cioccoshow Exhibition in Bologna, Italy.

World's oldest yoga instructor

Tao Porchon-Lynch was 93 when she was named world's oldest yoga instructor in May 2012; at year's end, she had turned 94 and was still going strong. Born in a French colony in India, she once won a contest for the “best legs in Europe” after working as a cabaret dancer in London during World War II. Her win led to a modeling career in Paris and then acting roles in America, followed by a career in script writing and documentaries.

Kevin Scott Ramos / Guinness World Records 2013 Edit

Longest snake ever in captivity

Medusa, a 25-foot, 2-inch reticulated python in Kansas City, Missouri was named the longest snake ever in captivity in 2012. The gigantic reptile lives at "The Edge of Hell" haunted house attraction. Despite its enormous size, this type of python rarely attacks humans, which should come as good news to Medusa's neighbors.

Paul Michael Hughes / Guinness World Records 2013 Edition

Oldest gymnast

The oldest gymnast in the world is Johanna Quaas of Germany. Born on Nov. 20, 1925, the 86-year-old is a regular competitor in an amateur gymnastics competition in Saxony, Germany. Quaas performed a floor-and-beam routine on the set of “Lo Show dei Record” on April 12, 2012 in Rome, Italy, where her record was certified.

Guinness World Records

Lowest roadworthy car

The lowest roadworthy car is the "Mirai," which measures 17.79 inches from the ground to highest part of the car. It was created by students and teachers of The Automobile Engineering Course at Okayama Sanyo High School in Asakuchi, Japan.

Largest display of solar-powered LEDs

The record for the largest display of solar-powered LEDs consists of 20,461 lights, achieved by Wajima City in Wajima, Ishikawa, Japan. More than 220 volunteers planted the LEDs in rice fields.

Guinness World Records

Fastest 100m on all fours

The world record for the fastest 100m run on all fours is 17.47 seconds, achieved by by Kenichi Ito in Tokyo. He goes an all fours at home daily for training.

Philip Robertson

Most pogo stick jumps in 1 minute

The record for the most pogo stick jumps in one minute is 265, achieved by Xpogo athlete Tone Staubs in Stamford, Conn.

Guinness World Records

Longest didgeridoo note

The record for the longest didgeridoo note is 65.66 seconds, achieved by 15-year-old Lachlan Phelps from Scone, Australia. A didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by indigenous Australians many centures ago. Circular breathing was not permitted in achieving the record.

Image By Paul Michael Hughes / Guinness World Records

Heaviest weight lifted by eye sockets

The heaviest weight lifted by both eye sockets is 52.91 pounds, achieved by Manjit Singh in Leicester, U.K.

Subhash Sharma

Largest kaikottikali dance

The record for the largest kaikottikali dance is 2,639 participants, achieved by the Mumbai Pooram Foundation in Mumbai, India. Kaikottikali a famous group-dances of the women of Kerala, in southwest India.