Guinness World Records 2019 is hitting shops around the globe today (Thursday 6 September). Once again it's jam-packed with incredible achievements and fantastic feats as well as bursting at the seams with facts, figures and trivia!
As well as documenting big food, odd talents, colossal collections and much more, this year Guinness World Records is looking beyond the record titles to the people themselves to find out what has driven their ambition to become Officially Amazing.
Everyone can dream big - but what does it take to be featured in the big book? Let's meet the stars of Guinness World Records 2019 and find out!
Sumiko Iwamuro a.k.a Sumirock
At the age of 83 years and 118 days, most would say their partying days are over.
However, Sumiko Iwamuro (a.k.a Sumirock) from Japan is breaking the norm by DJing well into the night at a club in Shinjuku, Tokyo – earning her the record for Oldest professional club DJ.
Sumiko runs a Chinese restaurant and works as a cook by day, but swaps her spatula for sequins once or twice a month to DJ at Club Decabar Z.
The transition from cook to DJ took dedication from Sumiko, who went to a DJ academy at the age of 77 after her friend suggested it to her.
Her friend's support and her belief that you need to “try something and don’t give up” has resulted in her realising her DJ dream later in life.
Matt Denton
Matt Denton holds the record for Largest rideable hexapod robot, which measures in at 2.8m x 5m (9ft 2in x 16ft 4in) and weighs almost two tonnes.
The British engineer was inspired as a child by the AT-ATs from Star Wars, and from then on has had a fascination with walking machines.
Matt also credits LEGO® for nurturing his creative curiosity as a child: "LEGO Technic sets… fired up my imagination as a child. I probably wouldn’t be doing what I do now without them."
After building around 20 smaller walking machine models and sharing them online, he received a lot of interest – and one of his robots ended up as a six-legged tortoise in a Harry Potter movie!
However, he also gained investment to build his biggest model yet, Mantis, which has earned him the record title.
Matt’s dreams came full circle after he was chosen to work on Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, and later won an award for his work on the BB8 robot.
"My younger self, there is no way that they could believe it, that I would end up working on a film and building a giant walking machine!
"It's amazing to be in the Guinness World Records book - it's fascinating! To have that title is fantastic."
Betty Goedhart
Former professional ice skater Betty Goedhart (US) is not one to shy away from a challenge.
Betty has always been active, and since visiting a circus with her parents at a young age, was mesmerised by trapeze artists.
However, she never had the chance to try the aerial art until she was 78.
But, being Betty, she seized the opportunity - and bar - with both hands.
She now holds the record for the Oldest performing flying trapeze artist (female), aged 84 years 249 days.
“Having this record title means so much to me - I’m amazed that I was able to get here. Isn’t it fun to do the impossible!”
Feather and Geronimo
Feather and Geronimo are two very special dogs, owned by one very special woman.
Samantha Valle, from Frederick, Maryland (US), is on a mission to change perceptions about rescue dogs, by finding their strengths and training them – as well as giving them plenty of love and attention.
"I feel like people have a lot of misconceptions about rescue dogs... but I really enjoy taking someone’s throwaway animals and making them into something great."
Her love for training has seen her earn two Guinness World Records titles for two of her dogs, Feather and Geronimo.
Feather, a two-year-old female greyhound, holds the record for Highest jump by a dog, managing a dizzying 191.7 cm (75.5 in) with ease.
Geronimo is 2 year old female Border Collie and Kelpie cross, and like Feather, likes jumping. She holds the record for Most double dutch-style skips by a dog in one minute achieving 113 jumps.
Samantha speaks of her dogs’ achievements: "Real proud moment. It’s really weird to look into the book and see my name listed. I have that now, and that’s awesome."
Tom Bagnall
Tom, from Cheadle, Staffordshire (UK), holds the record for Fastest speed in a jet-propelled go-kart, which has achieved a staggering speed of 112.29 mph (180.72 km/h).
"When I was growing up I was into engineering and making things… I’ve been building all types of crazy contraptions from a young age – I’ve just got the bug for speed!"
The road to the record was not always easy for Tom and Andy Morris, who designed and constructed the go-kart. However, Tom’s big dreams helped fuel his success.
"What I’d say to anyone is go for it, 100% in full pursuit, and do what you can to make your dreams work - if you dream big, you should do it."
Barry John Crowe
Barry John Crowe holds the record for Most sausages produced in one minute.
Since he was 10 Barry has been making sausages at his father's shop in Cavan, Ireland, which has been the family business for over 43 years.
He has won awards for his sausage making skills from the age of 13 and has invented various sausage flavours, from cheddar cheese and chilli flakes to chip shop curry.
After feeling that he could top the previous record of 60, he got the timer out and managed to craft 78 sausages.
"I’d love to just say to people: go for it. If you feel that you can do a Guinness World Records title, go for it!"
Elizabeth Bond
Elizabeth Bond, otherwise known as Betsy, is an art student from Wiltshire (UK) who holds the record for Largest knitting needles, which measure in at almost 4.5 metres - 4.42 m (14 ft 6.33 in), to be exact.
Betsy’s love of creating things started at a young age, and was sparked by her mum’s DIY home art projects.
"I always had a drive to be creative, and design and make. That was from mum constantly encouraging us with left-over loo roll tubes and empty washing up bottles to create and build!"
Betsy used the needles as part of an art installation for her final art project at Wiltshire College.
"Everyone’s got potential. Nothing can stop anyone, if you truly believe you can do it, just keep striving and pushing forward – what’s the worst that can happen?"
