Six weird and wonderful world records

The world’s tallest and shortest men were brought together for the first time in London yesterday for Guinness World Record Day 2014. The annual event saw a number of weird and wonderful new contributions to the pages of the next edition.

Cancan kicks

The Moulin Rouge did its bit yesterday, with dancers breaking the record for the most simultaneous demi-grand rond de jambe cancan kicks by a single chorus line in 30 seconds, racking up 29.

Penguins

Waddling into the record books were 373 people who turned out to Queen’s Walk in London dressed as penguins. Just pipping the 1.85m-tall high heel unveiled in New York as most absurd sight of the day.

Running on all-fours

Usain Bolt, watch your ankles. In Tokyo, Katsumi Tamakoshi set the record for the fastest 100m run on all-fours with a time of 15.86 seconds against the backdrop of the Komazawa Olympic Park Athletic Field.

Backwards basketball

Harlem Globetrotters player Thunder Law set the record for the farthest basketball shot made backwards at a whopping 25 m – the length of two-and-a-half buses.

Headbanging

Down Under, 320 students at Armidale High School rocked their way into the next edition of Guinness World Records, setting the bar for the most simultaneous head-bangers to the soundtrack of “It’s A Long Way To The Top ” by AC/DC.

Rice grains

Stuck for something to do this weekend? How about crafting a 1,798sq m mosaic made from rice grains? That’s what Taiwan’s Chinese Taoism Folk Culture Association did to earn its entry.

More: What happened when the world's tallest man met the world's shortest man