From a 194-year-old tortoise to John Cena: Guinness World Records names latest ICONS
New names join an elite group of global achievers
DUBAI – Guinness World Records (GWR), the global authority on record-breaking achievements, has announced its latest Guinness World Records ICONS, honouring a select group of record holders whose accomplishments have gone beyond numbers and titles to leave a lasting mark around the world.
The newly recognised figures represent extraordinary achievements across wildlife, sport, exploration, food, entertainment and human endurance.
The ICONS recognition celebrates individuals and groups who have become symbols of determination, innovation and inspiration through their record-breaking journeys.
Jonathan the tortoise
Among the latest additions is Jonathan the tortoise, believed to be the world’s oldest living land animal at the remarkable age of 194 years.
Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa), was believed to have been born around 1832, although his age is considered a conservative estimate and he may be older. The species has an average life expectancy of around 150 years.
Jonathan lives on the island of St Helena, where he arrived from the Seychelles in 1882. During his lifetime, he has witnessed major moments in modern history and has become one of the island’s most recognised residents.
Saint Helena Governor Nigel Phillips said Jonathan represents the island’s resilience and commitment to environmental protection. The tortoise has met royalty, appeared in wedding photographs and become a favourite attraction for visitors.
Hari Budha Magar MBE
Another new GWR ICON is Hari Budha Magar MBE, a Nepalese double amputee living in the UK who made history as the first double above-knee amputee to climb the Seven Summits, including Mont Blanc.
Hari lost both legs above the knee in 2010 after stepping on an improvised explosive device while serving with the British Army in Afghanistan. Following his injury, he began rebuilding his abilities step by step, starting with everyday challenges before setting his sights on his childhood ambition of climbing Mount Everest. After achieving that goal, he went on to complete the Seven Summits challenge.
Hari said receiving the GWR ICON recognition represented more than his mountain climbs, highlighting the importance of raising awareness about disability and showing what people can achieve.
Cooking marathon
Nigeria’s Hilda Baci has also been named among the new ICONS after her record-breaking cooking marathon captured worldwide attention. In May 2023, she set the Guinness World Records title for the longest cooking marathon with an attempt lasting 93 hours and 11 minutes.
Her achievement sparked widespread interest in Nigeria and across Africa, encouraging thousands of people to pursue their own record attempts. Hilda later achieved another record title in 2025 for the largest serving of jollof rice, weighing 8,780 kilograms (19,356 lb 9 oz).
Hilda said the recognition represented resilience, passion, discipline and the power of pursuing ambitious dreams, adding that the impact of her record journey extended beyond the achievement itself.
Other ICONS
The latest ICONS list also features several internationally recognised names. John Cena has been recognised for holding the record for the most WWE Championship titles, with 17 victories. Shohei Ohtani joins the list after becoming the first player in Major League Baseball history to achieve a 50/50 season.
Christina Koch is recognised for completing the longest spaceflight by a woman, lasting 328 days, 13 hours, 58 minutes and 12 seconds. South Korean girl group BLACKPINK has also been included after becoming the most streamed female group on Spotify, recording 16,941,431,115 streams.
Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief at Guinness World Records, said the ICONS represent record holders who have become part of global culture through achievements that continue to inspire people beyond the moment they set a record.
Guinness World Records ICONS
Guinness World Records ICONS are chosen from individuals who have gone beyond simply achieving a record and have created a lasting influence through their dedication, creativity and determination. The group includes pioneers, innovators, athletes, creatives, activists and record breakers whose stories have shaped the history of GWR.
Previous ICONS include double amputee triathlete Billy Monger, polar explorer Preet Chandi, global superstar Taylor Swift, and the world’s tallest and shortest women, Rumeysa Gelgi and Jyoti Amge.
The newly announced ICONS will feature in Guinness World Records 2027, priced at £22, which will go on sale on September 10, 2026.