The Most Difficult World Record to Achieve, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the world record you think is the most difficult!

Updated on Apr 25, 2024 06:26

Consider the myriad of world records out there, each one a testament to human skill, endurance, and sometimes, sheer creativity. Deciding which of these records is the most difficult to achieve is no small task, as each record represents a unique challenge conquered. This ranking aims to shed light on these outstanding feats, allowing people from all over the globe to weigh in. By participating in the voting, users contribute to a dynamic measurement of admiration and awe for each record's difficulty level. This continuous input not only fuels a healthy debate among enthusiasts but also provides new visitors with insights into what makes a world record not only unique but truly hard to surpass. Your votes help celebrate and acknowledge the extraordinary efforts behind each record.

What Is the Most Difficult World Record to Achieve?

1

61
votes
Longest time holding one's breath underwater

Stig Severinsen

This record requires both physical and mental strength, as well as a high level of training and preparation. The current record is 11 minutes and 54 seconds, set by Aleix Segura Vendrell in 2016.
The world record for the longest time holding one's breath underwater is an impressive feat of endurance and mental focus. It requires the individual to hold their breath for an extended period of time, without any assistance or equipment. This record pushes the limits of human breath-holding abilities.

Current Record: 24 minutes and 3.45 seconds

Previous Record: 22 minutes and 22 seconds

Date of Current Record: May 2012

Location of Record: Zealand, Denmark

Age of Record Holder: 40 years old
2

44
votes
Fastest marathon time

Eliud Kipchoge

This record requires exceptional endurance and stamina, as well as the ability to maintain a consistent pace for over 26 miles. The current men's record is 2 hours, 1 minute, and 39 seconds, set by Eliud Kipchoge in 2018. The women's record is 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 4 seconds, set by Brigid Kosgei in 2019.
The fastest marathon time refers to the record for completing the 42.195 kilometer (26.2 miles) distance in the shortest amount of time. It is an incredible achievement in the field of long-distance running.

Time: 2 hours, 1 minute, 39 seconds

Average pace per mile: 4 minutes and 38 seconds

Date of record: September 16, 2018

Location: Berlin, Germany

Age at the time: 33 years old
3

33
votes
Highest freefall parachute jump

Felix Baumgartner

This record requires a combination of courage, skill, and technical expertise, as well as specialized equipment and training. The current record is held by Felix Baumgartner, who jumped from a height of 128,100 feet in 2012.
The highest freefall parachute jump is a world record achievement that involves jumping from the greatest height possible and deploying a parachute to ensure a safe landing. This extreme achievement requires meticulous planning, precise execution, and bravery beyond measure.

Altitude: 39,045 meters (127,852 feet)

Freefall Time: 4 minutes and 20 seconds

Vertical Speed: 1,357.64 km/h (843.6 mph)

Location: Stratosphere above Roswell, New Mexico, USA

Date: October 14, 2012
4

20
votes
Fastest time to solve a Rubik's Cube

Feliks Zemdegs

This record requires both mental agility and physical dexterity, as well as a deep understanding of the cube's mechanics and algorithms. The current record is 3.47 seconds, set by Yusheng Du in 2018.
The fastest time to solve a Rubik's Cube is the record for solving a standard 3×3 Rubik's Cube puzzle as quickly as possible. The record is achieved by completing all 6 faces of the cube in the shortest amount of time.

Category: Speedcubing

Cube Size: 3x3

Solve Method: CFOP (Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL)

Regulatory Body: World Cube Association (WCA)

Cube Scramble: Randomly generated 25-move or more algorithm
5

24
votes
Most pull-ups in 24 hours

John Orth

This record requires exceptional upper body strength and endurance, as well as mental toughness and the ability to push through fatigue and pain. The current record is 7,600 pull-ups, set by John Orth in 2019.
The world record for the most pull-ups in 24 hours is an extremely demanding and grueling feat of strength and endurance. It involves performing as many full pull-ups as possible within a 24-hour time frame without any breaks or rest periods longer than 10 minutes.

Official Record: 7,600 pull-ups

Date Achieved: June 1, 2019

Location: Los Angeles, USA

Age of Creator at the time: 35

Gender of Creator: Male
6

16
votes
Fastest time to run 100 meters backwards

Dovilė Dzindzaletaitė

This record requires a unique combination of speed, balance, and coordination, as well as the ability to run backwards for an extended period of time. The current record is 12.87 seconds, set by Aaron Yoder in 2020.
The Fastest time to run 100 meters backwards is a challenging world record that requires tremendous agility, balance, and coordination. The objective is to cover a distance of 100 meters running in the reverse direction as quickly as possible.

Record Holder: Dovilė Dzindzaletaitė

Record Time: 13.6 seconds

Date of Record: July 22, 2012

Age at Record: 17 years old

Gender: Female
7

14
votes
Longest time standing on one foot

Suresh Joachim

This record requires exceptional balance and stability, as well as the ability to maintain a static position for an extended period of time. The current record is 76 hours and 40 minutes, set by Suresh Joachim in 1997.
The world record for the longest time standing on one foot is a remarkable feat of balance and endurance. It involves standing on one foot without any external support for an extended period of time.

Category: Individual

Record Holder: Suresh Joachim

Record Duration: 76 hours and 40 minutes

Year of Achievement: 2007

Record Venue: Tasmanian Devil roller coaster platform at West Edmonton Mall, Canada
8

18
votes
Most consecutive backflips

Ashrita Furman

This record requires exceptional athleticism and coordination, as well as the ability to perform a highly technical and physically demanding maneuver repeatedly without losing momentum or control. The current record is 27 backflips, set by Juma Mzuri in 2018.
The world record for the most consecutive backflips is an incredible feat of acrobatics and athleticism. It involves performing multiple backward somersaults in quick succession without any break or pause. This challenging record requires immense strength, agility, and precision to execute flawlessly.

Number of Consecutive Backflips: 55

Duration: 1 minute and 3.87 seconds

Venue: Queens, New York, USA

Date: September 21, 2016

Age of Creator: 62 years old
9

0
votes
Longest time spent in space

Valeri Polyakov

This record requires both physical and mental endurance, as well as the ability to adapt to the unique challenges of living and working in a zero-gravity environment. The current record is held by Valeri Polyakov, who spent 437 days in space on a single mission in 1994-95.
The world record for the longest time spent in space is a testament to human endurance and the progress of space exploration. It represents the incredible feat of spending an extended period of time living and working aboard a spacecraft in the inhospitable environment of outer space.

Record Holder: Valeri Polyakov

Record Duration: 437 days 17 hours 58 minutes

Spacecraft: Mir Space Station

Launch Date: January 8, 1994

Mission End Date: March 22, 1995
10

11
votes
Most consecutive days without sleep

Randy Gardner

This record requires a high level of mental and physical resilience, as well as the ability to function effectively despite extreme sleep deprivation. The current record is held by Randy Gardner, who stayed awake for 11 days and 25 minutes in 1964.
The world record for the most consecutive days without sleep is an incredible feat of endurance and sleep deprivation. It is a record that pushes the boundaries of human capability and requires tremendous mental and physical resilience.

Record Holder: Randy Gardner

Record Duration: 11 days, 25 minutes

Record Date: January 28 to February 8, 1964

Age at the time: 17 years old

Method: Gardner stayed awake through the use of stimulants, strategic napping, and constant supervision.

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Ranking factors for difficult world record

Physical demands

The extent to which the record requires exceptional strength, stamina, agility, or other physical attributes. This includes how much training and conditioning is necessary for an individual to be capable of attempting the record.
Skill level

The level of expertise, experience, and talent needed to have a chance at breaking the record. This may include years of practice, innate ability, or a combination of both.
Environmental factors

The conditions necessary for the record to be attempted, such as specific weather conditions or a particular location, can make achieving the record more difficult.
Competition

The number of people who have attempted the record and the current record holder's performance level can influence how difficult it is to break the record. Greater competition generally translates to a higher level of difficulty.
Risk involved

Records that involve a higher degree of risk, such as extreme sports or daredevil feats, can be considered more challenging due to the potential consequences of failure.
Mental fortitude

The mental strength and determination required to push through physical pain, fear, or other psychological barriers can be a significant factor in determining the difficulty of achieving a world record.
Accessibility

The availability of resources and opportunities to attempt the record can impact the level of difficulty. Records that require extensive travel, specialized equipment, or significant financial investment may be more challenging to achieve.
Time and endurance

Some records involve a test of time, requiring a person to perform a task or maintain a particular state for an extended period. The length of time required and the level of endurance necessary can make these records extremely difficult to break.
Rarity

The rarity of a particular skill or feat can also influence the difficulty of achieving a world record. Records in obscure categories or activities with very few participants often have less competition and may be easier to break, but could still be difficult due to the inherent challenges of the activity itself.
Rules and regulations

The specific rules and guidelines governing the record attempt can impact the difficulty level. This may include the requirement for professional or expert verification, strict adherence to particular methods or techniques, or other criteria that must be met for the record to be considered valid.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most difficult world record to achieve. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or record is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

3164 views
186 votes
10 ranked items

Movers & Shakers

Longest time holding one's breath underwater
Fastest marathon time
Fastest time to run 100 meters backwards
Most consecutive days without sleep

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each record once every 24 hours. The rank of each record is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most difficult world record to achieve

When it comes to world records, there are some that seem almost impossible to achieve. While many people strive to break records in areas like sports or music, there are some records that are so difficult to achieve that they remain unbroken for years – or even decades. But what makes a world record so difficult to achieve? In some cases, it may be due to the sheer physical or mental demands of the task. In others, it may be because the record is so specific or obscure that few people even attempt it. Whatever the reason, there are some records that stand out as particularly challenging – and in this article, we'll be exploring what makes them so tough to beat.