Guinness celebrates MENA region's record-breakers at its annual event

The GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS (GWR) Day 2019, an annual celebration of record-breaking, saw participation of amazing talents from across the MENA region.

Celebrated on the Highest View of the Tallest hotel in the world, GEVORA Hotel, GWR Day MENA celebrations saw elite selection of record-breakers from the UAE who told their inspiring stories and were announced Officially Amazing.

Speaking at the event is Dr Khaled Jamal Al Suwaidi, Executive Director at The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research and an ultra-marathon athlete was awarded with the Largest medal measuring 1.49 m in diameter, in recognition for his country-cross trip from Abu Dhabi to Holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia, which saw him cover 2,070 km in twenty-nine days.

In his remarks, Khaled expressed his gratitude to those who organised the event, and for receiving the largest medal in the world, which he considers “a source of pride and an incentive in his professional, personal and sports career.”

He stressed that his objective was never to gain fame and achieve records, rather he has sought to “send messages, one of which is to remind the Emirati youth that nothing is impossible, as long as there is strong will and determination.”

Also, took part in the event is Team Angel Wolf, a non-profit foundation which promotes inclusivity and integration of people with disabilities in the community, took 5 years and over 6,000 kilometers to get to the point of smashing two GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS titles for Fastest time to swim 5 km pulling a canoe/kayak, and Fastest time to swim 10 km pulling a canoe/kayak.

Nick Watson, a father of two and founder of Team Angel Wolf, has broken the first Guinness World Records title by pulling his son with disabilities for 2 hours, 42 minutes, and 48 seconds and the second record by kept going for 6 hours, 6 minutes, and 52 seconds.

As a former British Royal Marine, Nick Watson is used to gruelling physical ordeals. 

His non-profit project is widely gaining attention by the community country-wide across the UAE.

His foundations’ call for more inclusive, healthier, kinder global community is paying off. “Sport can really break down barriers. It brings people together,” he said.

“It changes the way people interact with each other,” he added.

“It has been five years since we started racing together, and Rio has covered over 6,000 kilometres of biking, swimming and running. Seeing the smile on Rio’s face in every adventure is priceless, and it is mainly what kept me going in my Guinness World Records attempt, knowing the joy it brings him. I am a proud father today,” said Watson.

On his part, GWR's Director – MENA, Talal Omar, said: “Out of all the applications we’ve received from all over MENA this year on GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Day, we have been fortunate enough to witness the attempts of these amazing individuals each with an inspiring story, and an aspiration to make a difference in the world. In fact, they are some of the most inspiring tails we’ve come across in the region. Our efforts to making the amazing official has paid off, and we are delighted to carry on in inspiring more individuals, families, schools, teams, groups, companies and communities to tell their stories through record-breaking.”

Successful records from across the world also announced on Guinness World Records™ Day include, but not limited to:

• UK – Fastest speed in a body-controlled jet engine powered suit: 85.06mph
• USA – The longest underhand basketball shot: 26.02 m
• France – Youngest person to reach the south pole solo: 27 years, 40 days
• Japan – Most people doing double under skips in a relay: 188
• China – Longest journey on an electric scooter: 6,267 miles

First held in 2004 to mark Guinness World Records becoming the best-selling copyright book of all time, GWR Day has inspired some now iconic record-breaking achievements. This year over 1000 applications were received from aspiring record breakers across the world, hoping to attempt records on GWR Day to secure their place in the next edition of the book.