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| Category | Record | Performer | Notes |
| Official Guinness World Record™ Most Swords Swallowed Simultaneously |
52 Swords |
9 Sword Swallowers: Red Stuart (25 swords) Natasha Veruschka (11) Dan Meyer (7) Keith Nelson (3) Travis Fessler (2) Matt Cassiere (1) Charles Knight (1) John Metz (1) Roderick Russell (1) |
On Friday, September 2, 2005 9 Sword Swallowers swallowed a total of 52 swords at the same time at the 2005 Sword Swallowers Convention at the Sideshow Gathering in Wilkes-Barre, PA to break the 2002 record of simultaneously swallowing 50 swords at once. (video) The SSAI members who broke this record were Red Stuart (25 swords), Natasha Veruschka (11 swords), Dan Meyer (7 swords), Keith Nelson (3 swords), Travis Fessler (2 swords), Matt Cassiere (1 sword), Charles Knight (1 sword), Roderick Russell (1 sword), and John Metz (1 sword). The number of swords and sword swallowers was audited by Certified Public Accountant Al D'Mario, witnessed and verified by veteran sideshow owners and former sword swallowers Chris Christ and Slim Price, confirmed by renowned sideshow historian James Taylor, certified an official SSAI World Record by SSAI President Dan Meyer, and certified an official Guinness World Record™ by *Guinness World Records™ in 2007. (video) |
| Official Guinness World Record™ Most Sword Swallowers Swallowing Swords Simultaneously |
19 Sword Swallowers 50 swords |
19 Sword Swallowers: Dai Andrews Bill Berry Thomas Blackthorne Chad Clos (Frack) Tim Cridland (Zamora) Pétur Pókus Finnbjörnsson Johnny Fox Jesse House (Ses Carny/) George The Giant McArthur Dan Meyer Keith Nelson Todd Robbins Roderick Russell Danny Snyder (Damien Blade) Erik Sprague (Lizardman) Jewels Strouzer Red Stuart Michael Todd (Malakai) Natasha Veruschka |
History was made on Friday, Aug 30, 2002 when 19 Sword Swallowers swallowed swords simultaneously at the 2002 Sword Swallowers Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA USA. The record setting sword swallowers who participated in the world record were Dai Andrews, Bill Berry, Thomas Blackthorne, Chad Clos (Frack), Tim Cridland (Zamora), Pétur Pókus Finnbjörnsson, Johnny Fox, Jesse House (Ses Carny/), George The Giant McArthur, Dan Meyer (Beltashazzar), Keith Nelson (Mr. Pennygaff), Todd Robbins, Roderick Russell, Danny Snyder, (Damien Blade), Erik Sprague (Lizardman), Jewels Strouzer, Red Stuart, Michael Todd (Malakai), Natasha Veruschka. This record was certified an official *Guinness World Record™ in 2004. |
| Official Guinness World Record™ Most Swords Swallowed Simultaneously |
50 Swords | 19 Sword Swallowers | On Friday, Aug 30, 2002 19 Sword Swallowers set a new world record by swallowing 50 swords at the same time (breaking the previous record of 46 swords) at the 2002 Sword Swallowers Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA USA. This record was certified an official *Guinness World Record™ in 2004. |
| Most Swords Swallowed Men |
52 swords 50 swords 34 swords 29 swords 28 swords 25 swords 24 swords 23 swords 21 swords 21 swords 21 swords 18 swords 17 swords 16 swords 16 swords 15 swords 14 swords 9 swords |
Red Stuart Red Stuart Red Stuart Dan Meyer Franz Huber Red Stuart Chayne Hultgren Kishan Valaiah Ayula Dan Meyer Franz Huber Matthew Henshaw Chayne Hultgren Chayne Hultgren Johnny Fox Lucky Ball Dan Meyer Dai Andrews Chris Steele |
On September 3, 2005 at the 2005 SSAI Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA USA, Red Stuart swallowed 25 swords at once with blades measuring at least 18" long x 1/2" in width which was certified an official Guinness World Record™. On Saturday, April 19, 2008, Red Stuart broke his own record by swallowing 34 swords with blades measuring at least 18 inches long x 1/2 inch wide at the 2008 Philadelphia Tattoo Convention in the Sheraton Hotel, Philadelphia, PA USA. (video) On World Sword Swallower's Day 2009 on February 28, 2009, Red Stuart broke his previous records by swallowing a total of 50 swords at once with blades measuring 18 inches long by 1/2 inch wide at Ripley's Believe It or Not in Atlantic City, NJ USA. In September 2009, Red Stuart broke his own record by swallowing 52 swords at once before the media while performing with Ward Hall's Worlds of Wonders Sideshow at the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul, MN, USA. (video) On June 13, 2012, sword swallower Dan Meyer swallowed 21 swords at once in Indianapolis, Indiana USA to break his previous record of swallowing 15 swords at once. On March 28, 2015, Dan Meyer broke his current record and the standing Guinness World Record by swallowing 29 swords at once measuring 27 inches (68 cm) long with blades in compliance with SSAI and Guinness requirements, measuring 20.25 inches (51 cm) long by .5 inches wide by 1 mm thick at Ripley's Believe It or Not St. Augustine Florida, USA (video). This record was certified as a world record by Record Setter World Records On February 20, 2015, German sword swallower Franz Huber swallowed 21 swords at once with blades in compliance with SSAI and Guinness requirements, measuring 27 inches long (68 cm) with blades 20.25 inches (51 cm) long by .5 inches wide by 1 mm thick in Garching an der Alz, Bavaria Gemany. (photo). On Saturday, February 28, 2015, Franz Huber swallowed 22 swords at once measuring 27 inches long (68 cm) with blades 20.25 inches (51 cm) long by 1 mm thick before a live audience for World Sword Swallower's Day 2015 at Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium in Orlando Florida USA. On 10 September, 2017, Franz Huber broke the standing Guinness World Record by swallowing 28 swords at once in Eggenfelden Germany (certificate video). Chayne Hultgren, the Space Cowboy swallowed 17 swords at Calder Park in Melbourne, Australia on March 28, 2008. On February 7, 2010, Hultgren broke his own personal record and set the record for Australia by swallowing 18 72 cm (28 inch) swords at once in Sydney, Australia. (video). On September 13, 2012, Hultgren set a new Guinness World Record in Australia for swallowing 24 swords at once in Sydney, Australia. (video) In 2011, Kishan Valaiah Ayula of Telangana Andhra Pradesh India was awarded the Guinness World Record for swallowing 22 swords at once. In 2012, Kishan broke his record by swallowing 23 swords at once (video) On November 14, 2010, Dan Meyer swallowed 15 swords at once while delivering a lecture on the "History, Art and Science of Sword Swallowing" at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT before an audience of museum guests and media (video). Of these swords, 6 were a matched set of 100 year-old swords swallowed by World Champion sword swallower Edith Clifford who swallowed them with Barnum and Bailey Circus from 1899-1919 (video). Dan regularly swallows 7 swords at the same time in his shows, and was x-rayed swallowing 7 swords at Vanderbilt Medical Center Nashville for "Stan Lee's Superhumans". (video) Matty Blade Henshaw swallowed 14 60 cm long swords regularly in his shows from April 5, 2000 to June 2004 in Australia. On May 29, 2010, Henshaw swallowed 21 swords 13 mm wide and 45 cm long at the Perth Tattoo Expo in Perth Australia to set his own personal record and the new Australian record.
Lucky Ball set his personal record by swallowing 16 swords at once in 1937.
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| Most Swords Swallowed Women |
24 swords 20 swords 16 swords |
Edith Clifford |
"Champion Sword Swallower" Edith Clifford regularly swallowed 16, 20 and 24 swords at once between 1899-1905. Harry Houdini saw her perform with Ringling Brothers Circus in 1919, and was so impressed with her abillities that he dedicated a good portion of his book "Miracle Mongers and their Methords" to Clifford. Clifford may have continued to swallow multiple swords up until 1920, when she retired from sword swallowing. |
| Longest Multiple Swords |
4 27" swords 5 30" swords |
Alex Lang Capt. Don Leslie |
Alex Lang held the * Guinness World Record™ for swallowing four 27-inch long swords at one time in the 1960s. Capt. Don Leslie swallowed his record five 30-inch long swords (1979-83). (description) |
| Official *Guinness World Record™ Multiple Swords |
28 swords 25 swords 24 swords 22 swords 18 swords 17 swords 14 swords 14 swords 13 swords 10 swords 7 swords 7 swords 5 swords 4 swords |
Franz Huber Red Stuart Chayne Hultgren Space Cowboy Chayne Hultgren Space Cowboy Kishan Valaiah Ayula Chayne Hultgren Space Cowboy Chayne Hultgren Space Cowboy Matthew Henshaw Natasha Veruschka Count Desmond Brad Byers Dan Meyer Amy Saunders Lady Sandra Reed Alex Linton |
On 10 September, 2017, in Eggenfelden Germany, Franz Huber set the current Guinness World Record by swallowing 28 swords at once (certificate video). On September 3, 2005 Red Stuart swallowed 25 swords at once with blades measuring at least 18" long x 1/2" in width at the 2005 SSAI Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA (video) (certified an official Guinness World Record™). Kishan Valaiah Ayula of India swallowed 22 swords at once for the Guinness World Records™ India official men's record at Ab India Todega in Mumbai, India on 13 February 2011. (video) On June 13, 2012, sword swallower Dan Meyer swallowed 21 swords at once to break his previous record of swallowing 15 swords in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Chayne Hultgren, the Space Cowboy of Australia held the official men's * Guinness World Record™ for swallowing 17 swords at once at Calder Park in Melbourne, Australia on March 28, 2008, which he broke by swallowing 18 swords at once on February 7, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. Matty Blade (Matthew Henshaw) of Australia held the men's * Guinness World Record™ for swallowing 14 60 cm. swords 2.6 mm thick weighing 4.5 kg at the Fremantle Busker's Festival on April 5-6, 2000. Henshaw swallowed 14 60 cm. swords regularly in his shows from April 5, 2000 to June 2004. On May 29, 2010, Henshaw swallowed 21 swords 13mm-wide and 45cm-long at the Perth Tattoo Expo in Perth Australia to set his own personal record and the new Australian record. Natasha Veruschka received the official women's * Guinness World Record™ for swallowing 13 swords at once at the 3rd Annual Sword Swallowers Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA on Sept 3, 2004 (video). Verushka later broke this record for an official Guinness World Record™ when she swallowed 14 swords on the set of "Lo Show Dei Record" in Rome, Italy on April 1, 2010. Count Desmond held the official * Guinness World Record™ in 1981 for swallowing 13 swords at once on July 6th, 1980 Brad Byers received the official * Guinness World Record™ in 2000 for swallowing 10 28" swords and turning them 180 degress on August 13, 1999 in Hollywood, CA USA. (video) Dan Meyer swallowed 7 swords at once on Sept 2-3, 2005 which was certified as part of an official Guinness World Record™ in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA. Amy Saunders held the women's * Guinness World Record™ for swallowing 5 blades at one time in London in 1999. Amy later broke her own Guinness world record by swallowing 6 swords on the set of El Show de los Records, Madrid, Spain on 27 November 2001. (video) Saunders later set a new women's Guinness World Record by swallowing 7 swords at once in London on September 11, 2004 on the Guinness World Records anniversary episode. Lady Sandra Reed> held the * Guinness World Record™ in 1975-1977 for swallowing 5 swords at once. Alex Linton held the * Guinness World Record™ for swallowing four 27-inch long swords at one time in the 1950s. |
| Official *Guinness World Record Multiple Swords Women |
14 swords 7 swords 5 swords |
Natasha Veruschka Amy Saunders Lady Sandra Reed |
Natasha Veruschka currently holds the official women's * Guinness World Record for swallowing 13 swords at once at the 3rd Annual Sword Swallowers Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA on Sept 3, 2004. Veruschka later broke this record for an official Guinness World Record™ when she swallowed 14 swords on the set of "Lo Show Dei Record" in Rome, Italy on April 1, 2010. Amy Saunders held the * Guinness World Record for a woman by swallowing 5 swords in London on April 28, 1999. According to Guinness, the official Guinness record for the most 35.5-53 cm (14-21 in) swords swallowed by a female was 6 by Amy Saunders on the set of El Show de los Records, Madrid, Spain on 27 November 2001. Amy later broke her own personal record and set a new Guinness World Record by swallowing 7 swords in London on September 11, 2004 on the Guinness World Records anniversary episode. Lady Sandra Reed held the * Guinness World Record in 1975-1977 for swallowing 5 swords at one time. |
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Personal Records Multiple Swords |
52 swords 34 swords 29 swords 27 swords 23 swords 22 swords 21 swords 21 swords 18 swords 16 swords 15 swords 14 swords 14 swords 13 swords 11 swords 10 swords 7 swords |
Red Stuart Red Stuart Dan Meyer Chayne Hultgren Kishan Valaiah Ayula Franz Huber Matthew Henshaw Dan Meyer Chayne Hultgren Johnny Fox Dan Meyer Dai Andrews Count Desmond Natasha Veruschka John Strong Brad Byers Amy Saunders |
On September 3, 2005 at the 2005 SSAI Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA USA, Red Stuart swallowed 25 swords at once with blades measuring at least 18" long x 1/2" in width (certified an official Guinness World Record™). On Saturday, April 19, 2008, Red Stuart broke his own record by swallowing 34 swords with blades measuring at least 18" long x 1/2" in width at the 2008 Philadelphia Tattoo Convention in the Sheraton Hotel, Philadelphia, PA USA. On Saturday, February 28, 2009, in honor of World Sword Swallower's Day 2009, Red Stuart broke his previous world records by swallowing a total of 52 swords at once with blades measuring 18" long by 1/2" wide at Ripley's Believe It or Not in Atlantic City, NJ USA.
Chayne Hultgren swallowed 27 swords at once for his own personal record in Australia. (photo) In 2011, Kishan Valaiah Ayula of Telangana Andhra Pradesh India was presented the Guinness World Record for swallowing 22 swords at once. In 2012, Kishan broke his record by swallowing 23 swords at once. On February 20, 2015, German sword swallower Franz Huber swallowed 21 swords at once measuring 27 inches long (68 cm) with blades 20.25 inches (51 cm) long by 1 mm thick in Garching an der Alz, Bavaria Gemany. (photo 20 swords). On Saturday, February 28, 2015, Franz Huber swallowed 22 swords at once measuring 27 inches long (68 cm) with blades 20.25 inches (51 cm) long by 1 mm thick before a live audience for World Sword Swallower's Day 2015 at Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium in Orlando Florida, USA. Australian sword swallower Matty Blade Henshaw swallowed 14 60 cm. swords regularly in his shows from April 5, 2000 to June 2004. On May 29, 2010, Henshaw swallowed 21 swords 13mm-wide and 45cm-long at the Perth Tattoo Expo in Perth Australia to set his own personal record and the new Australian record. On June 13, 2011, sword swallower Dan Meyer swallowed 21 swords at once in Indianapolis, Indiana to break his previous record of swallowing 15 swords at once on November 14, 2010 at the Bruce Museum, Greenwich, CT USA. Chayne Hultgren, the Space Cowboy swallowed 17 swords at Calder Park in Melbourne, Australia on March 28, 2008. Johnny Fox swallowed 16 swords on the Jonathan Winters' Comedy Magic Special in the 1980s in USA. Sword swallower Dan Meyer swallowed 15 swords at once on November 14, 2010 while delivering a lecture on the "History, Art and Science of Sword Swallowing" at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT before an audience of museum guests and media (video). Of these swords, 6 were a matched set of 100 year-old swords swallowed by World Champion sword swallower Edith Clifford who swallowed them with Barnum and Bailey Circus from 1899-1919 (video). Dan regularly swallows 7 swords at the same time in his shows, and was x-rayed swallowing 7 swords for "Stan Lee's Superhumans" at Vanderbilt Medical Center Nashville, TN USA. (video) Dai Andrews swallows 14 at the same time in his shows at the same time. Count Desmond swallowed 13 swords at once on July 6, 1980 for the 1981 Guinness World Record™
Natasha Veruschka swallowed 12 swords at the 2003 SSAI Convention and 13 swords at the 2004 SSAI Convention John Strong set his personal record by swallowing 11 swords at once Brad Byers swallows 10 swords inserted one at a time Amy Saunders swallowed 5 swords in London in 1999. According to Guinness World Records, the most 35.5-53 cm (14-21 in) swords swallowed by a female was 6 by Amy Saunders on the set of El Show de los Records, Madrid, Spain on 27 November 2001. Amy later broke her own personal record and set a new Guinness World Record by swallowing 7 swords at once in London on September 11, 2004 on the Guinness World Records anniversary episode. |
| Rotating Swallowed Swords with a Twist |
24 swords 14 swords 13 swords 13 swords 12 swords 12 swords 11 swords 10 swords 9 swords 1 sword 1 sword 1 curved sword 1 curved sword 1 curved sword |
Dan Meyer/Franz Huber Franz Huber Franz Huber Chris Steele Dan Meyer, Franz Huber Brad Byers Brad Byers Brad Byers Franz Huber Natasha Veruschka Brianna Belladonna Ryan Stock Brett Loudermilk Dan Meyer |
Brad Byers held the official * Guinness World Record™ in 2000 for inserting 10 28" swords individually one at a time, then twisting the 10 swords 180 degrees in his throat on August 13, 1999 in Hollywood, CA USA. (video). Byers broked his own record on October 6, 2014 by swallowing 11 swords measuring 27.75 inches long and rotating them with a 180 degree twist in Pullman Washington USA for a Record Setter world record. Byers repeated the record on December 20, 2014 by swallowing and rotating 11 swords at once at the Palouse Mall in Moscow, Idaho, USA. (video) On July 26, 2015, Byers broke his own record by swallowing 12 swords with blades 23 inches long consecutively then twisted them simultaneously 180 degrees in Pullman, Washington, USA. (video) On December 31, 2014, German Sword Swallower Franz Huber swallowed 9 swords and rotated them with a 180 degree twist for his personal record in Garching an der Alz, Bavaria, Germany. (video) On February 28, 2015, sword swallowers Franz Huber and Dan Meyer each swallowed 12 swords measuring 27 inches (68 cm) long with 20.25 inch (51 cm) long blades by 1 mm thick for a total of 24 swords at once, and rotated them simultaneously with a 180 degree twist before a live audience on World Sword Swallower's Day 2015 at Ripley's Believe It or Not museum in Orlando, Florida USA. This record was certified as an official world record by Record Setter World Records on March 12, 2015. (video) On August 6, 2015, Huber broke the record by swallowing 13 swords at once measuring 27 inches (68 cm) long with 20.25 inch (51 cm) long blades by 1 mm thick and twisting them 180 degrees on a live performance of Germany's Got Talent's Das SuperTalent in Essen, Germany. On February 25, 2017, for World Sword Swallower's Day 2017, Capt. Chris Steele swallowed 13 swords and twisted them 180 degrees before a live audience at Ripley's Odditorium St. Augustine, FL. On February 25, 2017, for World Sword Swallower's Day 2017, Franz Huber swallowed 14 swords and twisted them 180 degrees before a live audience at Ripley's Odditorium Amsterdam Netherlands. On February 25, 2012, sword Swallower Natasha Veruschka swallowed a 28 inch sword and twisted it 360 degrees on World Sword Swallower's Day 2012 at Ripley's Believe It or Not Times Square in New York, NY USA. (video) On July 2, 2014, sword swallower Brianna Belladonna swallowed a 24.75 inch sword with 19 inch blade and rotated it in a 180 degree twist, and she has been performing this feat in her act ever since. Canadian sword swallower Ryan Stock swallowed a curved sword which he rotated 180 degrees from his right side to his left side. Sword swallower Brett Loudermilk swallowed a curved sword which he rotated 180 degrees from his right side to his left side. Sword Swallower Dan Meyer regularly swallows a 23 inch curved Shamshir sword in his shows which he rotates 180 degrees from his right side to his left side without the use of hands by leaning to the right, then bowing forward and leaning to the left. [video] |
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Official: Most Individual Swords Swallowed In 30 seconds |
6 Swords |
Dan Meyer Ryan Stock |
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Official: Most Individual Swords Swallowed In 1 Minute |
13 Swords | Dan Meyer |
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Official: Most Individual Swords Swallowed In 3 Minutes |
26 Swords 17 Swords 16 Swords |
Dan Meyer Bear Lee Johnny Strange |
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Most Swords Swallowed In A Year |
3782 Swords 270 shows |
Matty Blade Henshaw | In 2003, Matty Blade Henshaw swallowed 14 swords in 270 shows within 365 days for a total of 3782 swords swallowed in one year. |
| Official *Guinness World Record™ Most Sword Swallowers Swallowing the Same Object Simultaneously |
4 Sword Swallowers |
Thomas Blackthorne (UK) Space Cowboy (Australia) Captain Frodo (Norway) Gordo Gamsby (Australia) |
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| Official *Guinness World Record™ Single Sword Swallowed by the Most Sword Swallowers |
40 Sword Swallowers |
Thomas Blackthorne (Italy) Dai Andrews (US) Dan Meyer (US) Roderick Russell (US) Damien Blade (US) Johnny Fox (US) Ses Carny (US) Frack (US) Malakai (US) George the Giant (US) Pétur Pókus (Iceland) Red Stuart (US) Lizard Man (US) Bill Berry (US) Mr. Pennygaff (US) The Great Fredini (US) Jewels (Germany) Natasha Veruschka (US) Todd Robbins (US) Tim Cridland (US) Tyler Fyre (US) Miss Behave (UK) Wasp Boy (UK) Lucky Diamond Rich (UK) Claudio Borghi (Italy) Rupert (Canada) David Straitjacket (UK) Space Cowboy (Australia) Elena Sellentin (Germany) Marco Cardona (Italy) Helmut Helmurto (Germany) Captain Frodo (Norway) Gordo Gamsby (Australia) |
The sword known as "The Sword of Swords" has been swallowed by at least 40 of the world's known sword swallowers. The sword was made by Thomas Blackthorne (UK/IT) in 1994 as a symbolic icon to link the otherwise solitary and disparate sword-swallower community. The "Sword of Swords" was swallowed in September 2002 at the first Sword Swallowers Association International international Sword Swallower's Convention by sword swallowers Thomas Blackthorne, Dai Andrews, Roderick Russell, Dan Meyer, Damien Blade, Johnny Fox, Ses Carny, Frack, Malakai, George the Giant, Peter Pokus, Red Stuart, Lizard Man, Bill Berry, Mr. Pennygaff, The Great Fredini, Jewels, Natasha Veruschka, Todd Robbins, Tim Cridland, and Tyler Fyre. The Sword of Swords was also swallowed in 2002 by Miss Behave and Wasp Boy. The Sword of Swords was then swallowed by Lucky Diamond Rich on September 2, 2003, the day he became the world's most tattooed man. It was also swallowed in 2003 by Claudio Borghi. In 2004, it was swallowed by sword swallower Rupert. In 2005 it was swallowed by David Straitjacket. In 2006, the sword was swallowed by Space Cowboy, Elena Sellentin, Marco Cardona, Helmut Hannibal Helmurto. In 2007, it was swallowed by Captain Frodo, Gordo Gamsby. The Sword of Swords has since been certified as an official Guinness World Record™. |
| Longest Sword Finland |
63 cm / 25 inches | Yrjö Lehvonen | Yrjö Lehvonen was the best-known sword swallower in Finland, performing from around 1950 into the 1960's. In 1964 Lehvonen swallowed a 63 centimeter long sword to the hilt, which according to Kotiposti magazine was a world record at the time in Finland. |
| Longest Sword Australia |
72 cm / 28.4 inches | Space Cowboy | Due to an internal deformation medically known as congenital division of the stomach, the lower half of Chayne's stomach has been replicated and sits lower than the average human stomach, allowing Chayne to swallow longer swords. |
| Longest Sword USA |
83.82 cm / 33 inches | George The Giant | At 7' 3" tall, George the Giant has a height advantage and holds the world record for swallowing the longest sword by swallowing a sword with a 33" long blade. |
| Curved Sword | 90 degrees | Dai Andrews Brad Byers Thomas Blackthorne Dan Meyer |
Fewer than 5 performers are currently swallowing swords with a 90 degree curve: Brad Byers, Dai Andrews, Thomas Blackthorne, and Dan Meyer (video) |
| Curved Sword | 120 degrees | Dai Andrews | Dai Andrews set a new world record for the "Largest curve in a sword swallowed" by swallowing a sword that was curved 120 degrees from point to hilt on September 12, 2009 at Pimlico Race course in Baltimore, MD USA. The angle of the sword was measured manually by protractor and digitally by Auto-CAD. |
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Official Sword Swallowing Jack Hammer |
Jack Hammer | Thomas Blackthorne | Thomas Blackthorne swallows a running jackhammer. |
| Official Heaviest Weighted Sword Swallow Lift |
5.14 kg / 11.3 lbs |
Dan Meyer |
Dan Meyer swallowed a sword with 19 inch long blade and the used it to lift 5 liters of water in a bucket with combined weight of 5.14 kilograms (11.3 lbs) which he held for 5.63 seconds to set a new Assist World Record on February 5, 2012 in Hyderabad India. (video) This record was witnessed, adjudicated, and verified by a team of 5 official adjudicators from Global Assist World Records India and certified an official Global Assist World Record before a live audience of over 10,000 people attending CityFest Hyderabad at Wesley Degree College in Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. This record was also later certified as an official Record Setter World Record. |
| Official *Guinness World Record™ Heaviest Weighted Sword Swallow |
22.4 kg / 49.3 lbs 20.1 kg / 44.3 lbs |
Chayne Hultgren Matty Blade Henshaw |
Chayne Hultgren, the Space Cowboy now holds the official * Guinness World Record™ for the heaviest weighted sword swallow weighing 22.4 kilograms at Calder Park in Melbourne, Australia on March 28, 2008 Matty Blade Henshaw is listed in the 2007 * Guinness World Record Book™ for swallowing a sword with the heaviest weight of 20.1 kilograms (44 lb 4.96 oz) attached to the hilt for five seconds. |
| Unofficial Heaviest Weighted Sword Swallow |
38.2 kg / 84.2 lbs 31 kg / 68.3 lbs 17.4 kg / 38.4 lbs |
Chris Steele Aerial Manx Chris Steele |
Aerial Manx held the previous record for the heaviest weighted sword swallow weighing 31 kilograms (68.3 lbs) lifted from a swallowed sword in Newport Melbourne Australia on May 3, 2011: Two 5 kg handweights, two 4kg handweights, one 3 kg handweight, and two 5kg sand bags. (video) Chris Steele swallowed a 16 inch long sword weighted with 2 cinder blocks weighing a total of 38 lbs 4 ozs (17.42 kg) on April 25, 2011 on the America's Got Talent auditions at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, GA USA. The episode aired on America's Got Talent on June 25, 2011. (video) |
| Official *Guinness World Record™ Heaviest Object |
38 kg / 83.12 lbs |
Dewalt D25980 Demolition Jackhammer Thomas Blackthorne |
The heaviest object sword-swallowed is a Dewalt D25980 demolition hammer weighing 38kg (83lb 12 oz).Thomas Blackthorne (Italy) swallowed the 25mm (1 inch) thick drill bit, then held the full weight of the hammer and bit for over 3 seconds, on the set of "Guinness World Records™ - Die Größten Weltrekorde", in Cologne, Germany, on 23 November 2007. The hammer was switched on. |
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Heaviest Vehicle Pulled By a Sword Swallower |
3739 lbs / 1696.4 kg 3700 lbs / 1678.3 kg 3244 lbs / 1471.5 kg |
2002 Audi Quattro by Ryan Stock
1998 Chevy Malibu by
2005 Mini Cooper by |
Ryan Stock pulled 3740 lbs (1696.44 kgs) when he pulled a 2002 Audi Quattro 23.9318 feet (6.38 meters) in 20.53 seconds, an impressive feat considering he accomplished this feat with a solid steel sword down his throat! With two chains attached between the vehicle's chassis and the sword's hilt, Ryan swallowed the 43.18 cm/2cm blade down his throat and then pulled the car. He set a new Guinness World Record for "Heavist Vehicle Pulled by a Sword Swallower" as of November 26, 2008. On February 15, 2013, Dan Meyer pulled a 3700 lb 1998 Chevy Malibu weighing 1678.3 kg (3700 lbs) a total of 10 feet by swallowed sword in Muncie, Indiana, USA. On February 23, 2013 Dan Meyer pulled a 2844 lb Mini Cooper covered in over 1 million Swarovski crystals weighing an additional 400 lbs for a total of 3244 lbs (1471.45 kg) by swallowed sword before a live audience at Ripley's Believe It or Not Baltimore Maryland, USA in honor of World Sword Swallower's Day 2013. Meyer swallowed a 22 inch sword with 18 inch blade and pulled the car a total of 12 feet. (video) |
| Furthest Distance for Vehicle Pulled by Swallowed Sword |
22.55 feet / 6.87 meters 20.93 feet / 6.38 meters |
1964 Triumph Spitfire by Dan Meyer
2002 Audi Quattro by
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On June 27, 2022, Dan Meyer pulled a 1964 Triumph Spitfire weighing 1568 lbs with two passengers, Australia's Got Talent judges Shane Jacobsen and Kate Ritchie, a total of 22.55 feet / 6.87 meters by swallowed sword measuring 18 inches (45.72 cm) long before a live audience on Australia's Got Talent at the Sydney Coliseum in Sydney Australia. The feat was certified a new Record Holders Republic World Record on September 7, 2022.
On October 28, 2008 Ryan Stock pulled a 2002 Audi Quattro 20.93 feet (6.38 meters) in 20.53 seconds by swallowed sword with a blade measuring 17 inches (43.18 cm) long in Las Vegas, NV. The feat was certified a Guinness World Record on November 26, 2008. |
| Official *Guinness World Record™ Underwater Sword Swallow |
Sword Swallowing Underwater | Dan Meyer | On March 24, 2010, Dan Meyer received the Guinness World Record™ for swallowing a sword with 18 inch long blade while submerged underwater on the Italian TV program "Lo Show Dei Record" in Rome, Italy. Dan then broke this record by swallowing a longer 30 inch sword with 24 inch long blade underwater. He then set a new Guinness World Record™ record for swallowing 2 swords underwater simultaneously when he swallowed both of them together at the same time. Dan punctured his esophagus while filming the records, and spent the next 10 days recuperating on an IV drip in a hospital in Rome. (video) |
| Flaming Sword | Flaming Blade | Dan Meyer | Even though others have swallowed swords with hilts on fire, Dan Meyer was the first to swallow a flaming sword on national TV with the entire blade on fire on the Las Vegas semi-finals of America's Got Talent at Planet Hollywood Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada USA on May 13, 2008. (video) |
| Hottest Sword Swallowed |
Red-Hot Sword 1500 F |
Dan Meyer |
In September 2008 and from April to December 2009, Dan Meyer swallowed a 37.5 inch red-hot sword heated to over 1500 degrees Fahrenheit (817 degrees Celsius) in Hartselle, AL, USA, and publicly on February 1, 2010 for medical professionals and other witnesses in Hartselle, AL in a filmed documentary for "The History Channel's Stan Lee's SuperHumans" season 1, episode 7 "Man of Steel" (video). Episode S1E7 first aired on The History Channel Sept 23, 2010 and again on Sept 30, 2010 (behind-the-scenes footage) |
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World's Youngest Swordswallower USA |
11 years old 11 years old 12 years old 12 years old 13 years old 13 years old 14 years old |
Delno Fritz Frank Skerbeck Miss Victorina Jim Lucky Ball II Edith Clifford Rick Dennis Haley Hall |
Delno Fritz learned sword swallowing in 1882-83 at the age of 11 from his father who was also a sword swallower, with tips from legendary sword swallower Cliquot
Frank Skerbeck learned sword swallowing in 1859 at the age of 11 and became a legendary circus performer and owner. German sword swallower Miss Victorina (Katie "Kitty" B. Fischer Hallworth) learned sword swallowing in 1891-92 at the age of 12 and performed for over 22 years. Edith Clifford learned sword swallowing in 1899 at the age of 13 from legendary Barnum and Bailey Circus sword swallower Delno Fritz. Rick Dennis learned sword swallowing at the age of 13 while working with circuses and sideshows around the US in 1966. Haley Hall learned sword swallowing on Oct 7, 2012 at the age of 14 years, 4 months and 28 days in Covington Georgia, and holds the current record for World's Youngest Sword Swallower. Hall performed at Ripley's St. Augustine on February 22, 2014 for World Sword Swallower's Day 2014, on America's Got Talent 2014 and the Steve Harvey Show in 2014, and for World Sword Swallower's Day 2015 at Ripley's Orlando, and on World Sword Swallower's Day 2017 at Ripley's Myrtle Beach SC. NOTE: Due to the extremely dangerous nature of sword swallowing and the number of deaths incurred, the category "World's Youngest Sword Swallower" is CLOSED by SSAI and Guinness World Records™ to minimize the chance of injuries and death in minors. |
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Confirmed Youngest Swordswallower USA |
14 years old |
Alex Zander Morrow Haley Hall Sasha Ashley |
Alex Zander Morrow swallowed his first sword at the age of 14 August 30, 2003 before an audience of other sword swallowers, circus sideshow historians, and international media at the 2003 Sword Swallowers Convention and Sideshow Gathering in Wilkes-Barre, PA USA. The event was captured on film on the documentary "Stomachs of Steel" that aired on The Discovery Channel. Haley Hall swallowed her first sword at the age of 14 years, 4 months and 28 days in Covington Georgia on October 7, 2012. Sasha Ashley swallowed her first sword at the age of 14 in Georgia in 2014. |
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Youngest Swordswallower Russia/Sweden |
14 years old | Jewels | Jewels was born in Russia, started swallowing swords in Sweden at the age of 14, and moved to perform in England at the age of 17. |
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Youngest Swordswallower UK |
16 years old | Amy Saunders |
Amy Saunders started swallowing swords in England at the age of 16. |
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Youngest Swordswallower Mexico |
18 years old | Andrei Saffioti | By learning sword swallowing at the age of 18 in 2010, Andrei Saffioti was known as the youngest sword swallower in Mexico. |
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Most Years Sword Swallowing |
76 years (1947) 62 years (1957) 53 years (1966) 53 years (1966) 53 years (1966) 44 years (1975) 43 years (1976) 42 years (1977) |
Jim Lucky Ball II Johnny Meah Rick Dennis Red Stuart Jan Refne Borge Dale Pritchard Ramesh Chandra Kasera Rhea Roma |
Johnny Meah learned sword swallowing in 1957, and is still sword swallowing today. Rick Dennis learned sword swallowing in 1966. Red Stuart learned sword swallowing in 1966 from Toni Del Rio and is still sword swallowing today. Jan Refne Borge of Norway learned sword swallowing at the age of 13 in 1966 and is still sword swallowing today. Dale Pritchard learned sword swallowing from Count Desmond in 1975 and is still sword swallowing at Mallory Square in Key West FL. Ramesh Chandra Kasera learned sword swallowing at the age of 21 in India in 1976. Rhea Roma learned sword swallowing from Count Desmond in 1977. |
| Oldest Living Sword Swallowers |
Born Age Began 1935 88 1947 1937 86 1958 1937 85 1957 1938 85 1955 1939 84 1972 1945 78 1969 1946 78 1976 1950 73 1975 1951 72 2004 1951 72 1966 1952 71 1966 1953 70 1967 1953 70 1975 1955 68 2002 1956 66 1982 1957 66 1997 1957 66 1976 1957 66 2009 1957 66 1977 1958 65 1992 1958 65 1976 1958 65 2007 1959 64 1978 1959 64 1981 |
Name (Country) Jim Lucky Ball II (US) Stan Marye (US) Johnny Meah (US) Timo Tuomivaara (Fin) Red Trower (US) George DeSoto (US) Leo Griep-Ruiz (US) Dale Pritchard (US) Harley Newman (US) Red Stuart (US) Rick Dennis (US) Jan Refne Borge (Nor) Moz Wright (US) Mike Harrison (US) Ricky Hargrove (US) Dan Meyer (US) Ramesh Kasera (India) Darrell Hunsley (US) Rhea Roma (US) Todd Robbins (US) John Strong (US) Raul Aravena (Chile) Diane Falk (US) Brad Byers (US) |
Oldest living sword swallowers by age, year started sword swallowing, and country. |
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First Man To Swallow Lightbulbs |
Lightbulbs | Chevalier Cliquot | According to Houdini's book "Miracle Mongers", the first man to swallow an electric lightbulb was Chevalier Cliquot. Cliquot's act included swallowing an electric light bulb connected to an 8-volt battery (1890s) |
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First Woman To Swallow Neon Tubes |
Neon Tubes | Edna Price | According to Ripley's Believe It Or Not, the first woman to swallow a white neon tube was Edna Price (1920s) (video) |
| Double Neon Tubes | 2 Neon Tubes | "Manx" James Loughron | Manx (James Loughron) of Australia was the first to swallow 2 neon tubes at the same time at the age of 21. (video) |
| Double Neon Tubes and Steel Sword |
2 Neon Tubes and 1 Steel Sword |
Aerial Manx | Aerial Manx holds the world record for being the first to swallow 2 individual 2000-volt neon tubes with a 47cm steel sword wedged between them in Newport Melbourne Australia on May 3, 2011. |
| Most Sword Swallowers Swallowing Car Axles |
2 Sword Swallowers 2 Car Axles |
Red Stuart Dan Meyer |
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Longest Time for Sword Swallowing Australia |
Longest Time | Michele White | Michele White of Victoria, Australia swallowed a sword and retained it in her throat for a period of 225 seconds, or 3:45 (3 minutes, :45 seconds). |
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Sword Swallowing While Passing Juggling Clubs |
While passing clubs |
Bill Berry Keith Nelson Dan Meyer Bill Berry Ted Campbell |
Keith Nelson and IJA silver- and gold-medalist Bill Berry passed 6 juggling clubs between them while swallowing 2 swords at the 2002 SSAI Sword Swallowers Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA USA. |
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Most Targets Hit with a Whip While Sword Swallowing |
8 targets | Travis Fessler of Pickled Brothers Sideshow from Florence, KY set the SSAI World Record for hitting 8 targets with a whip while sword swallowing at 1:30pm on September 10, 2011 at the Old West Festival in Williamsburg, Ohio, USA. (video) | |
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Whip Cracking while Sword Swallowing |
44 Whip Cracks 17 Whip Cracks |
Bill Berry |
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Most Bowling Pins Knocked Down While Sword Swallowing |
14 Bowling Pins |
Franz Huber |
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Sword Swallowing While Laying Down |
While Laying Down | Jim Lucky Ball II | Jim Lucky Ball II swallowed swords while laying down on the bally stage in 1956. |
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Sword Swallowing On Bed of Nails |
While Laying on a Bed of Nails | Andrew Stanton | Andrew Stanton of Las Vegas, NV lays on his chest on a bed of nails and grabs his ankles while swallowing a sword. |
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Sword Swallowing On a Rolla Bolla |
While Standing on a Rolla Bolla | Nick Steward | Nick Steward of Auckland New Zealand swallowed a sword while balancing on a rolla bolla for a TV program in August 2008. On May 10, 2012 he swallowed a 28 inch sword with 20 inch long blade while balancing on a rolla bolla in Chennai India. (video) |
| First Handstand While Sword Swallowing | Australia | "Manx" James Loughron | Aerial Manx (James Loughron) of Australia was the first to perform a handstand while swallowing a sword on August 3, 2008. (video) |
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Longest Time Balancing In a Handstand While Sword Swallowing |
17 seconds | "Manx" James Loughron | Aerial Manx (James Loughron) of Australia performed a handstand for 17 seconds while swallowing a sword in 2010. |
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Cartwheels while Sword Swallowing |
Cartwheels While Sword Swallowing |
Lora Rae Penney Aerial Manx |
Lora Rae Penney performed a cartwheel while swallowing a sword in Maine. (video) Aerial Manx (James Loughron) of Australia performed 7 consecutive cartwheels in a row while swallowing a sword in 2010. In Feburary 2011, Aerial Manx was filmed doing 9 cartwheel sword swallows for Australia's Got Talent in Sydney Australia. (video) |
| Most Swords Swallowed While Doing Cartwheels | 3 Swords, 2 Cartwheels | Nick Penney |
Nick Penney performed a 2 cartwheels while swallowing 3 swords at once before a live audience at the University Of Maine Jewett Hall Auditorium on July 14, 2012 in Augusta, Maine, USA. (video) |
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World's First Aerial Walkover While Sword Swallowing |
World's First Aerial Walkover While Sword Swallowing | "Manx" James Loughron | Aerial Manx (James Loughron) of Australia performed the world's first aeriall walkover while swallowing a sword in 2010. |
| World's First Sword Swallow while Balancing Upside Down in a Hand-to-Hand Handstand | Worlds First Sword Swallow while Balancing Upside Down in a Hand-to-hand Handstand | "Manx" James Loughron | Aerial Manx (James Loughron) performed the world's first sword swallow while being balanced in a handstand on the hands of Hemlock Merjarne in Australia in 2010. |
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Official Confirmed Sword Swallowing On Unicycle |
While Jumping Rope on Unicycle | Joey Joey | Joey Joey of New York performs an act in which he swallows a sword, mounts his unicycle with the sword inside him, and then jumps rope all at the same time. |
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Most Curved Swords Swallowed at Once (UK) |
2 Curved Swords At Once |
Ian Brown | Ian Brown (El Lurchio) swallowed 2 curved swords at once measuring 65cm (25.5 inches) long with blades lengths of 53cm (21 inches) long on July 12, 2012 at Ryde on the Isle of Wight. (video) |
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Sword Swallowing While Hanging Suspended Upside Down (USA) |
Sword Swallowing While Suspended Upside Down (USA) |
Dan Meyer | Dan Meyer swallowed a 19 inch sword to the hilt while hanging suspended upside down from a trapeze while wearing suspension boots on September 19, 2005 in Hartselle, AL. |
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Sword Swallowing While Hanging Suspended Upside Down (Finland) |
Sword Swallowing While Suspended Upside Down (Finland) |
Jari Tapanainen | Jari Tapanainen swallowed a 50 cm sword to the hilt while hanging suspended upside down for the Ennätystehdas TV program in Finland. It was filmed on 10 October 2006 and aired on 5.11.2006. |
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Sword Swallowing While Hanging Suspended Upside Down (UK) |
Sword Swallowing While Suspended Upside Down (UK) |
Helmut Kirchmeier | Helmut Kirchmeier swallowed a sword while hanging suspended upside down on February 28, 2009 for World Sword Swallower's Day 2009 while on tour with with the Circus of Horrors in Brecon, Wales, UK. The feat was featured in the April 2009 edition of Bizarre Magazine. |
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Sword Swallowing While Suspended Over Niagara Falls (Canada) |
Sword Swallowing While Suspended Over Niagara Falls |
Count Desmond | Count Desmond swallowed a sword while suspended upside down from a helicopter 200 feet over Niagara Falls on Friday, June 13, 1980. |
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Double Sword Swallow While Hanging Suspended Upside Down (Australia) |
Double Sword Swallowing While Suspended Upside Down (Australia) |
Chayne Hultgren Lucky Diamond Rich |
Chayne Hultgren, the Space Cowboy of Australia swallowed a sword while hanging suspended upside down while being lowered down while Lucky Diamond Rich swallowed another sword attached to the bottom of it for the first double sword swallow at the Glastonbury Festival in 2000. (video) |
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Most Swords Swallowed While Hanging Upside Down (USA) |
3 Swords Swallowed While Hanging Upside Down |
Nick Penney | Nick Penney swallowed 3 swords at once while hanging suspended upside down by his knees on a playground on July 18, 2012 in Augusta Maine, USA. The blade lengths of the swords were 15 inches, 16.5 inches, and 18 inches long. (video) |
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Most Consecutive Pushups While Sword Swallowing (USA) |
21 Pushups 7 Pushups 3 Pushups |
Dan Meyer Michele White Nick Penney |
Baroness Mischa Michele White swallowed a 21 inch long sword and performed 7 pushups on February 4, 2015 in Victoria, Australia. Dan Meyer swallowed a 21.5 inch long sword with 16.5 inch long blade and performed 21 pushups on February 18, 2015 in Tampa Florida, USA in honor of World Sword Swallower's Day 2015. (video) This record was certified as a world record by Record Setter World Records. |
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Most Consecutive Situps While Sword Swallowing (Germany) |
10 Sit-ups |
Franz Huber |
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Sword Swallowing Underwater (Australia) |
Underwater | Matthew Henshaw | Matty Blade of Australia claimed to have swallowed a sword underwater in a private swimming pool at a private party in North Perth Western Australia on on January 1, 2004. No photos or other verifiable proof available. |
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Sword Swallowing Underwater In a Tank of Sharks (Australia) |
Underwater in a Tank of Sharks | Chayne Hultgren | Chayne Hultgren, the Space Cowboy of Australia was the first person to publicly swallow a sword underwater in a tank of live sharks before the press on May 9, 2006 at Manly Ocean World Aquarium in Sydney Australia. |
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Sword Swallowing Underwater In a Tank of Sharks and Stingrays (Western Hemisphere) |
Underwater in a Tank of Sharks and Stingrays | Dan Meyer |
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Ballet Dancing while Sword Swallowing |
Ballet en Pointe | Patricia Forrest | Patricia Forrest was the first person to dance 7 Novemballet en pointe while swallowing a sword on February 23, 2013 at Ripley's Believe It or Not Panama City, Florida USA on World Sword Swallower's Day 2013. (video) |
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Longest Succesful Basketball Shot while Sword Swallowing |
Basket | Bill Berry |
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Chainsaw Juggling while Sword Swallowing (Australia) |
Chainsaw Juggling | Aerial Manx | Aerial Manx was the first person to juggle a running chainsaw with two machetes while swallowing a 47 cm long sword at Melbourne Botanical Gardens on Monday March 29, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (video) |
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Suicide Drop on Chinese Pole (Australia) |
Chinese Pole | Aerial Manx | Aerial Manx was the first person to perform a suicide drop on a Chinese pole a distance of 3 meters while swallowing a 52 cm long sword at the Circus Oz rehearsal space in Port Melbourne, Australia in August 2010. (video) |
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Back Flip while Sword Swallowing (Australia) |
Back flip | Aerial Manx | Aerial Manx was the first person to perform a backflip while swallowing a 47 cm long sword at Melbourne Botanical Gardens on Monday March 29, 2011. (video) |
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Sword Swallowing While Suspended on Body Hooks Male (USA) |
USA | Andrew Stanton | Andrew Stanton of SwingShift Sideshow was the first person in the US to swallow a sword while suspended by body hooks on Friday, October 17, 2003 outside of Studio 21 Tattoo in Las Vegas, Nevada. |
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Sword Swallowing While Suspended on Body Hooks Female (USA) |
USA | Brianna Belladonna | Brianna Belladonna became the first woman in the US to swallow a sword while suspended by body hooks when she swallowed a sword with 19 inch blade while suspended by body hooks in Los Angeles, CA USA on June 23, 2011. (video) She then set a new record by becoming the first woman to swallow multiple swords while suspended when she swallowed 2 swords together at once while suspended on June 23, 2011. (video) |
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Sword Swallowing While Suspended on Body Hooks (UK) |
UK | Helmut Kirchmeier | Helmut Kirchmeier was the first person in the UK to swallow a sword while suspended by body hooks in 2009. |
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Sword Swallowing While Suspended on Body Hooks (Mexico) |
Mexico | Ricardo Chavoya | Ricardo Chavoya was the first person in Mexico to swallow a sword while suspended by body hooks on December 31, 2010. |
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Sword Swallowing While Suspended on Shark Hooks (Australia) |
Australia | Aerial Manx | Aerial Manx was the first person on record in Australia to swallow a 47 cm long sword while suspended by 2 shark hooks with two pyrotechnics strapped to the hilt at 1:00am on May 29, 2011. |
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