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See Also
See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 32 Fotos
Alcohol consumption
- Records involving the rapid consumption of alcohol are no longer accepted by Guinness World Records.
© Getty Images
1 / 32 Fotos
Most XXX eaten in a minute/Fastest time to eat XXX
- Entries for the most people eating any given food are not accepted.
© Getty Images
2 / 32 Fotos
Records based on originality/uniqueness
- This is not quantifiable, therefore entries for records based on originality/uniqueness are not accepted.
© Getty Images
3 / 32 Fotos
Heaviest pets
- Entries for heaviest or lightest pets are not accepted.
© Getty Images
4 / 32 Fotos
Poetry
- Poetry is very subjective, so only broader publishing records are accepted.
© Shutterstock
5 / 32 Fotos
Environmentally impactful records
- Events such as largest release of sky lanterns or balloons are not accepted.
© Getty Images
6 / 32 Fotos
Fastest musician - This is difficult to judge, even when slowed down, says Guinness World Records.
© Shutterstock
7 / 32 Fotos
High score-gamers
- High score records for video games don't fall under the Guinness World Records' umbrella.
© Getty Images
8 / 32 Fotos
Freckles
- Size and number of freckles, moles, and birthmarks are not monitored by Guinness World Records.
© Getty Images
9 / 32 Fotos
Artwork
- Being a subjective field is the reason why paintings, drawings, and so on are not accepted.
© Getty Images
10 / 32 Fotos
Listening to music
- This is also difficult to assess as the person might not be actively listening to the music.
© Getty Images
11 / 32 Fotos
Blinking- never/most in 1 minute
- This is yet another category that is not accepted by Guinness World Records.
© Shutterstock
12 / 32 Fotos
Fasting/hunger strike
- According to Guinness World Records, this is a "sensitive and difficult area to monitor."
© Shutterstock
13 / 32 Fotos
Surgeries/invasive medical tests
- Having the most operations/invasive tests in a short period of time will not get you an official record.
© Shutterstock
14 / 32 Fotos
Animal records
- Any record that can be harmful to animals is not accepted.
© Getty Images
15 / 32 Fotos
Fast learning
- This is difficult to assess and quantify, so it's not accepted by Guinness World Records.
© Getty Images
16 / 32 Fotos
Oldest person with a disease/syndrome/disability - Guinness World Records does not accept such entries.
© Shutterstock
17 / 32 Fotos
Qualifications
- Criteria changes from country to country, making it difficult to assess and quantify, therefore records are not accepted.
© Getty Images
18 / 32 Fotos
Distance running records (in costume, pushing a pram, etc.)
- Only those achieved in full and half marathon distances are accepted.
© Shutterstock
19 / 32 Fotos
Improvisation/jamming
- Guinness World Records says it's not possible to assess the musical proficiency and quality of these, therefore entries are not accepted.
© Getty Images
20 / 32 Fotos
Speeding on public roads
- The only exception being if the roads used are closed off specifically for the record attempt. Though you can try to break the record for "Lowest fuel consumption in a journey from A to B" instead!
© Getty Images
21 / 32 Fotos
Costumed records
- Guinness World Records only recognizes categories that have "very specific, standard, iconic, internationally recognizable dress."
© Shutterstock
22 / 32 Fotos
Animal eating and releases
- Records involving animals eating or being released are not officially recognized.
© Shutterstock
23 / 32 Fotos
Weightlifting machines
- These machines vary in configuration, so records can't be claimed.
© Shutterstock
24 / 32 Fotos
Most people eating/drinking
- Only a select number of iconic meal records, such as "Largest silver service dinner," are recognized by Guinness World Records.
© Shutterstock
25 / 32 Fotos
Sports achievements
- Only those performed "at a top-level professional, international, or pre-eminent amateur" are accepted.
© Getty Images
26 / 32 Fotos
Animal breeds
- While entries for absolute records such as "longest ever dog" are accepted, other categories pertaining to specific breeds are not monitored.
© Getty Images
27 / 32 Fotos
Young achievers
- Entries for endurance records are only accepted for those aged over 16.
© Getty Images
28 / 32 Fotos
Photography - group photos
- This is yet another category that is not monitored by Guinness World Records.
© Getty Images
29 / 32 Fotos
Highest altitude activity on-board an aircraft
- Things such as social events or sports games aboard aircrafts are not accepted.
© Getty Images
30 / 32 Fotos
Small fruits/vegetables/plants
- Sorry, your tiny carrots won't make it through the application process. See also: The bizarre world records that no one wants to beat
© Getty Images
31 / 32 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 32 Fotos
Alcohol consumption
- Records involving the rapid consumption of alcohol are no longer accepted by Guinness World Records.
© Getty Images
1 / 32 Fotos
Most XXX eaten in a minute/Fastest time to eat XXX
- Entries for the most people eating any given food are not accepted.
© Getty Images
2 / 32 Fotos
Records based on originality/uniqueness
- This is not quantifiable, therefore entries for records based on originality/uniqueness are not accepted.
© Getty Images
3 / 32 Fotos
Heaviest pets
- Entries for heaviest or lightest pets are not accepted.
© Getty Images
4 / 32 Fotos
Poetry
- Poetry is very subjective, so only broader publishing records are accepted.
© Shutterstock
5 / 32 Fotos
Environmentally impactful records
- Events such as largest release of sky lanterns or balloons are not accepted.
© Getty Images
6 / 32 Fotos
Fastest musician - This is difficult to judge, even when slowed down, says Guinness World Records.
© Shutterstock
7 / 32 Fotos
High score-gamers
- High score records for video games don't fall under the Guinness World Records' umbrella.
© Getty Images
8 / 32 Fotos
Freckles
- Size and number of freckles, moles, and birthmarks are not monitored by Guinness World Records.
© Getty Images
9 / 32 Fotos
Artwork
- Being a subjective field is the reason why paintings, drawings, and so on are not accepted.
© Getty Images
10 / 32 Fotos
Listening to music
- This is also difficult to assess as the person might not be actively listening to the music.
© Getty Images
11 / 32 Fotos
Blinking- never/most in 1 minute
- This is yet another category that is not accepted by Guinness World Records.
© Shutterstock
12 / 32 Fotos
Fasting/hunger strike
- According to Guinness World Records, this is a "sensitive and difficult area to monitor."
© Shutterstock
13 / 32 Fotos
Surgeries/invasive medical tests
- Having the most operations/invasive tests in a short period of time will not get you an official record.
© Shutterstock
14 / 32 Fotos
Animal records
- Any record that can be harmful to animals is not accepted.
© Getty Images
15 / 32 Fotos
Fast learning
- This is difficult to assess and quantify, so it's not accepted by Guinness World Records.
© Getty Images
16 / 32 Fotos
Oldest person with a disease/syndrome/disability - Guinness World Records does not accept such entries.
© Shutterstock
17 / 32 Fotos
Qualifications
- Criteria changes from country to country, making it difficult to assess and quantify, therefore records are not accepted.
© Getty Images
18 / 32 Fotos
Distance running records (in costume, pushing a pram, etc.)
- Only those achieved in full and half marathon distances are accepted.
© Shutterstock
19 / 32 Fotos
Improvisation/jamming
- Guinness World Records says it's not possible to assess the musical proficiency and quality of these, therefore entries are not accepted.
© Getty Images
20 / 32 Fotos
Speeding on public roads
- The only exception being if the roads used are closed off specifically for the record attempt. Though you can try to break the record for "Lowest fuel consumption in a journey from A to B" instead!
© Getty Images
21 / 32 Fotos
Costumed records
- Guinness World Records only recognizes categories that have "very specific, standard, iconic, internationally recognizable dress."
© Shutterstock
22 / 32 Fotos
Animal eating and releases
- Records involving animals eating or being released are not officially recognized.
© Shutterstock
23 / 32 Fotos
Weightlifting machines
- These machines vary in configuration, so records can't be claimed.
© Shutterstock
24 / 32 Fotos
Most people eating/drinking
- Only a select number of iconic meal records, such as "Largest silver service dinner," are recognized by Guinness World Records.
© Shutterstock
25 / 32 Fotos
Sports achievements
- Only those performed "at a top-level professional, international, or pre-eminent amateur" are accepted.
© Getty Images
26 / 32 Fotos
Animal breeds
- While entries for absolute records such as "longest ever dog" are accepted, other categories pertaining to specific breeds are not monitored.
© Getty Images
27 / 32 Fotos
Young achievers
- Entries for endurance records are only accepted for those aged over 16.
© Getty Images
28 / 32 Fotos
Photography - group photos
- This is yet another category that is not monitored by Guinness World Records.
© Getty Images
29 / 32 Fotos
Highest altitude activity on-board an aircraft
- Things such as social events or sports games aboard aircrafts are not accepted.
© Getty Images
30 / 32 Fotos
Small fruits/vegetables/plants
- Sorry, your tiny carrots won't make it through the application process. See also: The bizarre world records that no one wants to beat
© Getty Images
31 / 32 Fotos
World records that Guinness refuses to accept
From drinking to writing poetry
© Getty Images
The appeal of achieving a record-breaking feat is understandable. We all want to be special in some way, and some of us go to great lengths to get there. But while your record might get you a prize and recognition from your peers, it doesn't necessarily mean Guinness World Records will recognize it. Sorry to burst your bubble!
Indeed, entries are selected on a number of criteria that more often than not is hard to meet. So if you think you have what it takes to break a world record, first check if it can actually be recognized as one.
In this gallery, we look at some of the reasons Guinness World Records applications are rejected, and in particular the types of records that are not accepted. Click on for more!
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