From helicopters to quad bikes: Arab athletes rewrite Guinness World Records
Global talents mark 70 years of Guinness brilliance with spectacular feats
DUBAI – The Guinness World Records is marking its 21st annual Guinness World Records Day with a thrilling display of human potential, daring skill, and extraordinary athleticism.
The celebration coincided with the unveiling of the 2026 edition of the world-famous records book, featuring 2,247 remarkable new achievements, more than 80 per cent of which are new or updated. Globally, over 48,000 individuals from all corners of the world applied to attempt records in the past year, contributing to the spirit of ambition, innovation, and performance.
Arab achievers
Standing out among Arab achievers was Lebanese athlete Samer Madi, who attempted the Longest duration to maintain a straddle human flag position on a flying helicopter. Suspended mid-air above the Rene Mouawad Air Base in Lebanon, he held the pose for 21 seconds on 16 November 2025. A professional fitness trainer, Samer honed his skills by practising while hanging from moving vehicles and high-rise structures, building strength and precision to master this gravity-defying feat.
In the UAE, athletic mastery took centre stage as Abdullah Al Hattawi manoeuvred a quad bike while partner Ammar Alkhudairi, balanced on his head, performed 23 football touches using only the soles of his feet. The duo secured the title for Most football sole touches on a moving quad bike in 30 seconds (team of two). Together, they now hold 14 Guinness World Records titles, including the longest quad bike wheelie on Sheikh Zayed Road, covering 60 km in 2018, and 127 consecutive football touches while paragliding over Sharjah in 2023.
In another UAE triumph, football freestyle specialist Hamed Al Shehhi claimed the Fastest time to cover 1 km while juggling a football, clocking in at 7 minutes 13 seconds. He also holds the Longest back-heel football shot into a basketball hoop, landing the ball from 12 metres in 2024, bringing his total record count to 10 titles.
Defying limits
In Jordan, Abdulrahman Makhlouf, who has no lower limbs, achieved the longest time balancing on a wheelchair using just two fingers from each hand, maintaining the position for 30.51 seconds. He also completed nine pull-ups in one minute while in his wheelchair, adding another title to his name. Also from Jordan, multi-discipline athlete Yaser Zeyad broke the record for smashing five wooden mallets in 30 seconds using his bare hands, adding to his earlier title for bursting a hot-water bottle in four seconds.
In Syria, Yazan Saleh demonstrated extraordinary endurance by completing multiple 360-degree rotations while suspended by his teeth, securing his 12th Guinness title.
Global talent
Beyond the Middle East, international athletes made their mark. In China, 13-year-old Liu Haoran achieved the highest bicycle backflip at 2.9 metres. In Japan, Shunichi Kanno balanced 25 drink cans on his body using air suction. The United States saw Jessica Martinez set the record for the largest afro (female), measuring 29 cm tall, 31 cm wide, and 190 cm in circumference. Meanwhile, in London, Josh Patterson became the first to officially complete the fastest climb and descent of The O2 in 4 minutes 40.79 seconds, ahead of the venue’s upcoming Guinness World Records attraction.
Celebrating potential
Commenting on the celebrations, Will Manford, Official Adjudicator at Guinness World Records, said, “Whatever your talent is, there’s a record for you. The achievements from around the world demonstrate the diversity of skills and the shared ambition to inspire and uplift others.”
The event also marked the 70th anniversary of the original Guinness World Records book, first published in the 1950s. Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday noted that the new edition aims to help readers become part of history, reinforcing the message that everyone has the potential to be the best at something.