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Hollywood, Height And Heavy Metal Headline As 'Brangelina', The World's Tallest Man and Guitar Hero Top List of Record Breakers From Britney Spears' unparalleled comeback to Brangelina's Hollywood ascension, 2008 has been a year marked by record-breaking achievements from around the globe. Grabbing headlines throughout the year, Guinness World Records has chronicled hundreds of amazing feats from all across the globe, perhaps none as captivating as the improbable meeting between Svetlana Pankratova, Longest Legs, and the World's Smallest Man - He PingPing.
"Guinness World Records has spent over 50 years chronicling remarkable record-breaking feats and 2008 was one of the best years yet," said Craig Glenday, Editor-In-Chief, Guinness World Records. "With well over 1,000 claims a week, we were thrilled to validate some of the most jaw-dropping, triumphant and mind-boggling records from around the world."
After sifting through its voluminous files, Guinness World Records highlights the following record moments as the best of the year.
He PingPing and Svetlana Meet - Opposites attract, especially when it comes to the media as He PingPing, the World's Smallest Man, met Svetlana Pankratova, the World's Longest Legs, in London on September 16, 2008. Standing at an astounding 6' 5" tall, the Russian beauty's legs measure 51.9 inches long where as the tiny 20-year old from Inner Mongolia, China, measures only 21.9 inches total!
Powerful Actor and Actress in Hollywood - Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie nabbed Tinseltown's top spot this year when they were crowned the Most Powerful Actors in Hollywood. Jolie jointly held the title with her hubby's ex Jennifer Aniston in 2007, while Pitt ended Tom Cruise's four-year reign as the Most Powerful Actor.
High Score on a Single Song for Guitar Hero III - Video game prodigy Chris Chike scored a staggering 899,703 points on the song "Through the Fire and Flames" on August 29,2008. Chris set the Guinness World Record on Guitar Hero's toughest track besting the previous record
holder Danny Johnson's score of 890,971 points on the same song.
Tallest Man - China's Bao Xi Shun (7 feet 8.95 inches) recaptured the record as the world's Tallest Living Man from Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk (8 feet 5.5 inch). In order to ensure the highest level of accuracy in this category, guidelines for the title were amended earlier
this year. After repeated requests to measure Stadnyk in person went unanswered, Guinness World Records returned the title to Xi Shun in compliance with its new regulations.
Gathering of People Wearing Underpants - 116 bold and nearly-naked people gathered in their underpants at St. Pancras station on November 13, 2008. The members of Pants to Poverty not only received the Guinness World Record but brought global attention to their ethical fashion cause.
Highest Revenue Generated by an Entertainment Product in 24 Hours - In May 2008, Grand Theft Auto IV became the most profitable entertainment release of all-time when it crushed the competition by selling 3.6 million units and earning $310 million in its first day of release. The
record-breaking sales far surpassed any video game, film and book release including Harry Potter.
Largest Group Shower - Eco pioneers Ludacris and Tommy Lee along with hundreds of people took part in the world's Largest Shower at the Planet Hollywood Hotel in Las Vegas for the show Battleground Earth, which explores ways to help the environment.
Fastest Bed - Racing full-throttle through the streets of London, Britain's Edd China set the record for the Fastest Bed on November 13, 2008. At a whopping 69 mph, China raced his way to another Guinness World Record.
Largest Rubber Band Ball - Florida resident Joel Waul unveiled the world's Largest Rubber Band Ball at 9,032 pounds. Measuring 6 feet, 7 inches tall and with a diameter of 25 feet, this popular record easily surpassed the previous mark by more than 4,000 pounds.
Fastest Circumnavigation Cycled Around the World - In February 2008, modern day Magellan Mark Beaumont of Scotland completed the fastest cycling circumnavigation around the world in 194 days and 17 hours. Beaumont pedaled a distance of 29,445.81 km (18,296.74 miles) and
traveled over 40,100 km in total (including transfers) with stops in France, Pakistan, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
