This British speed eater holds a staggering 18 record titles

Speed eater Leah Shutkever holds a staggering 18 records, making her one of the most successful competitive eaters in Guinness World Records history.

However, she has no plans to stop there. Leah is on a mission to break 20 records before the end of 2020.

"My biggest goal in 2020 was to hit 20 Guinness World Records titles," she explained.

"There’s been so much going on and everyone’s been a little disheartened and I wanted to create a light at the end of my own tunnel. It’s an achievement that will create content and entertainment.

"We’re very close and I’m very excited, so fingers crossed we will get there!"

All the records Leah has broken so far in 2020:

16 May 2020 - most jam doughnuts eaten in three minutes: 10
13 June 2020 - fastest time to drink one litre of gravy: 1 min 4.9 seconds
13 June 2020 - most tomatoes eaten in one minute: 8
28 June 2020 - most sausages swallowed in one minute: 12
19 August 2020 - fastest time to eat 80 g of watercress: 45.26 seconds
19 August 2020 - most spring rolls eaten in one minute: 301 grams
19 August 2020 - most lasagne eaten in 30 seconds: 380 g
23 August 2020 - fastest time to eat a cucumber: 27.16 seconds
17 September 2020 - most mini gherkins/pickles eaten in one minute: 23
27 September 2020 - most hot cross buns eaten in three minutes: 6
21 October 2020 - fastest time to eat a Chocolate Orange: 57.14 seconds
21 October 2020 - most marshmallows eaten in one minute (no hands): 20
9 November 2020 - most chocolate truffles eaten in one minute (no hands): 12

Leah first got into speed eating by chance in 2013 at 23 years old, after her brother challenged her to an eating challenge at a local restaurant.

"I didn’t have a clue how I was going to do. Since then, I’ve really gotten a hunger for it."

Despite getting into speed eating in 2013, Leah’s first official record title was in May 2019, for the fastest time to eat three pickled eggs (7.80 seconds).

"I became totally obsessed about being featured [in the Guinness World Records book] since I saw LA Beast as a centrefold with his multiple records, that really inspired me!"

Since then Leah’s gone onto break speed eating records for burritos, muffins, doughnuts, lasagne and even watercress, and in the process got her wish of being featured in the Guinness World Records book.

For one of her most recent records, most marshmallows eaten in one minute (no hands) she actually took one of LA Beast's records from him.

"This was a huge win. The challenge was that I was taking on LA beast. He set the record at 19 and I felt like I had to get it!"

As a female in a very male dominated area, Leah definitely stands out in the speed eating world.

"Being a woman in the competitive eating space is definitely rewarding."

"I feel like because I’m a woman I almost get more stripes and I don’t feel that it’s fair. I’d love to be put on a level playing field with my male counterparts."

Leah is often referred to as the UK's number one female competitive eater - and her record titles certainly help prove that she's a cut above the rest. However, in the UK there is no definitive speed eating or competitive eating ranking.

"I don’t know that we’ll ever have like an all-star competitive eating match in the UK, I feel like it’s all down to perspective... there are many variables to how to rank people."

"If I’m thought of as being number one in the UK I’m grateful for it, and if not, that’s fine too, each to their own."

Either way, Leah is certainly hugely accomplished in her field.

We'll have to wait and see if Leah secures enough record titles to reach her 2020 goal - but in the meantime, you can stay up to date via her Youtube, Instagram or Twitter.

You can see lots of Leah's records in Guinness World Records 2021, available to buy now