Guinness World Records launches 70th anniversary edition for 2025

Ever wondered how quickly you could put on 10 pairs of underpants?

For Australian man Nicholas Manning, the feat took just 13.03 seconds – making him a world record holder.

Mr Manning features in the newly released book of Guinness World Records for not just one, but three underpants-related world records. Not only did he set the record for the fastest time to don 10 pairs of underpants, he also broke new boundaries pulling on the most underpants in 30 seconds (23) and in one minute (44).

Guinness World Records, the global authority* on record breaking achievements, launched its brand-new 70th Anniversary edition Guinness World Records 2025 (GWR2025) on September 12, celebrating seven decades* of the world’s most amazing, unusual and downright wacky feats.

And our previously unsung underpants man is not the only Australian to feature in GWR2025.

Other record-holders include Peter Charlesworth, who completed the longest journey by stand-up paddleboard in 2023, travelling an epic 2677.34km, and Donna Urquhart, who ran the longest polar ultra-marathon* on foot. Urquhart ran 1402.21 km on the Union Glacier in Antarctica, averaging 50 km per day over 28 running days.

Aussie animals also leave their mark in the brand new edition. Forest the Giraffe at Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland, reigns supreme* as the world’s tallest giraffe in captivity, after measuring in at 5.7m in 2019. Beanie the sheep, along with trainer Noeline Cassettari, nabbed the most tricks performed by a sheep in one minute with 11 tricks, while Noeline’s horse Rose took out the most tricks performed by a horse in one minute (13).

Other unusual categories to feature in the 2025 edition include fastest time to complete 10 side leapfrog jumps by two dogs, largest hands and feet on a teenager, largest collection of Squishmallows and the most coins deposited into a bottle by a dog in one minute.

Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday said the new edition celebrates its platinum anniversary* and features more than 1000 images while “continuing the annual tradition of reporting on all of the latest record-breaking achievements.”

“Over the past year, we’ve reviewed nearly 30,000 applications, and the result is a book packed with thousands of awesome facts and feats for the whole family to enjoy,” he said.

The new edition features a cover design by 3D digital artist Chris Labrooy carrying the theme: “to find the fun!” that twists “familiar everyday things into new typographic* and sculptural forms”, and includes references to the sporting world, engineering, exploration, gaming, and flora and fauna*.

Platinum-grade icon status has been bestowed on a select group of record breakers (think Taylor Swift and LeBron James) that epitomise* what it means to be a Guinness World Records titleholder.

A chapter has also been devoted to GWR books from the past 70 years to see how they have evolved over time.

But this year, the fun doesn’t stop there. Gamers can enjoy having a whole world records book to themselves in the Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition.

The book features every major game, console*, character and developer* and lists the Top

100 Greatest Gaming World Records, as selected and ranked by a panel of experts and records researchers.

It also celebrates the greatest achievements in videogaming by exploring the biggest titles, the fastest speedrunners*, the biggest collectors, the highest-earning esports stars* and the most celebrated developers.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• global authority: world leader
• seven decades: 70 years
• polar ultra-marathon: a marathon greater than 42.195 km run in the polar regions of Earth
• reigned supreme: stayed the leader
• platinum anniversary: anniversaries are traditionally named after gems or precious metals, with the 70th anniversary called a platinum anniversary
• typographic: pertaining to typography, the design and selection of letter forms to be arranged into words and sentences
• flora and fauna: plants and animals
• epitomise: to be a perfect example of
• console: a machine video games are played on
• developer: someone who makes video games
• speedrunners: gamers who attempt to play and finish video games as quickly as possible
• esports stars: people who play video games competitively at a professional level

EXTRA READING

Guinness World Records 2024: ‘Crazy, fun, inspiring’

Aussies set Guinness world records

World’s biggest spud is a dud

QUICK QUIZ

1. How many world record applications were reviewed in the making of the Guinness World Records 2025 edition?
2. How many kilometres did Donna Urquhart run in Antarctica to set the world record for the longest polar ultra-marathon on foot?
3. How many tricks in one minute did Beanie the sheep perform?
4. How tall is the world’s tallest giraffe in captivity?
5. What is the theme of the Guinness World Records 2025 book cover?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. How would you do it?
If you wanted to break Nicholas’ world record, what would you need to do to develop the skills and the speed to do it? Create a training program that would make you the world’s fastest underpants changer!

Time: allow at least 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education

2. Extension
"World records should just be held by serious athletes, not for silly things like changing underpants."

Do you agree with this statement? Use information from the story and your own ideas to write a list of reasons that would convince anyone to agree with you.

Time: allow at least 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education

VCOP ACTIVITY
Guinness class records
Have you ever thought you could nab one of these Guinness records yourself? I mean, how hard is it really to put on underwear, or eat as many Ferrero Rochers as you can in a minute?!

Find 10 Guinness World Records your class could have a go at matching or even beating.

Have students decide which record/s you would each like to attempt and predict their outcome.

Complete the challenges to see how you all go.

Then write a paragraph summarising what record you attempted, how you thought you would go, how you actually went, and your feelings towards the attempting the records.

Re-read your paragraph. Does it make sense? Is there any repetition you can remove or replace? Can you make any changes to it before sharing it with a peer?