USA: The man with the most Guinness World Records marches one mile with his friend on his back, earning yet another entry into the record book

Looking much like a weigh-in for a prize fight, Ashrita Furman and Bipin Larkin take to the scales, only to discover they weigh exactly the same amount. But these two men are far from fierce competitors, rather they are best of friends, collaborators in an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest fireman's carry. The record, a new one for Guinness, calls for them to go one mile, without stopping, in under 18 minutes. Guinness also stipulates that the person being carried weighs at least as much as the carrier. Lucky for Furman the weight was spot on. Furman is far from a novice at setting Guinness Records. In fact, with 30 current records he holds more than anyone else. His closest rival is ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, but as Furman is quick to point out McCartney had a few other famous helpers with many of his records. Other records set by Furman over the past three decades include the fastest mile pushing an orange with his nose, the longest time balancing on a Swiss Ball, the fastest mile on a pogo stick and the most milk crates balanced on his chin. Furman timed his latest attempt to coincide with Guinness World Records Day. Guinness Records, the keeper of all records wacky and wonderful has been around for 50 years, and has set aside November 9th as a day to celebrate record setting achievement. They are encouraging people around the world to use the day to try to break records. With Bipin on his back, Furman trudged one-half mile down the boardwalk at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey before turning around and heading back. Furman and Bipin finally crossed the finish line 15 minutes, 11.87 seconds later, and proceeded to collapse in a heap, totally exhausted. Despite knocking almost 3 minutes off the stated Guinness target, Furman said setting the record was far from easy and far from certain. "Well I had to do less than 18 minutes and so I was a little concerned because I had never actually done a full mile before. But once I hit the half way point and got over it then I knew that I probably could do it," Furman said. With so many records under his belt, Furman was asked how the excitement of setting this record compares to the others. "I think the first one was the biggest thrill because throughout my whole childhood I had wanted to get into the Guinness book of records but it's funny because there is a tremendous thrill for me each time, it never fades, it never goes away," said Furman. He is quick to point out the contribution of his colleague Bipin, saying that the person on top in the fireman's carry has to put all of his weight on his stomach, and often feels very ill over long distances. Asked if he would be willing to do this again, Bipin said: "I don't look forward to doing this again, no. He probably will. I'm worried because it's a new category that, it's a 'fireman's carry', firemen are going to latch on to it so I could see us doing this again, but I hope not." On hand to verify Furman's record was Stuart Claxton, head of U.S. research for Guinness World Records. "Guinness World Records also has a healthy sense of humour, so we're always interested in it being fun as well. But really we're looking for things that are actually other people can also break because as we always say, "Records are meant to be broken" and that's what we're celebrating today," he said. Other record attempts took place recently around the U.S. timed to Guinness World Record Day. In New York Chad Fell blew a 20 inch bubblegum bubble, setting a record for the largest one without the use of hands. Aaron Studham of Leominster, Massachussetts sported the tallest Mohawk haircut, coming in at a hair-raising 21 inches. Other Guinness Records being attempted outside the U.S. on Wednesday (November 9) included the 'Longest Non-stop Commercial Flight', from Hong Kong to London's Heathrow, and the 'Largest Milkshake, being attempted by a group in Brisbane, Australia.

ITN Source | November 11, 2005

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