This is a list of Guinness World Records that have been discontinued for various reasons. This may include that the record poses a threat to health or the environment.
Record
Reason to discontinue
Last appearance in the records book
References
"The largest ever mass balloon release"
Environmental concerns (see Balloonfest '86 )
[1] [2] [3]
Controversial animal sports
Concerns with animal welfare. Includes camel wresting records, and "largest fox ever killed during an English fox hunt".
[3]
Fastest journey around the world by car
Breaking speed limits
1996
[3]
Fastest yodel
[3]
Heaviest pets
Encourages people to over-feed their pets
1998
[3] [4]
Hunger strikes / Fasting
[5]
Untimed gluttony
Health concerns
1989
[4] [3]
Largest penny pyramid
Penny shortage
1984
[3]
Largest pie fight
Policies on food waste increasing in strictness, including that the food is "for general consumption by humans".
[3]
Longest kiss
Health concerns
[6]
Longest time spent buried alive
Health concerns
[5] [7]
Longest time spent without sleeping
Health concerns
1974
[8] [9] [10] [11]
Most beer drunk in an hour
1991
[3]
Most difficult tongue twister
[3]
Most greeting cards received by an individual
Fear of overwhelming the postal system
[3]
Most guitars smashed during a concert tour
"Guitar welfare"
[3]
Most sky lanterns released simultaneously
Environmental concerns
[3]
Most tweets in a single second
[3]
Video game high scores
[5]
Fastest violinist
"It has become impossible to judge the quality of the renditions, even when slowed down. In terms of monitoring the number of musical notes, it is not clear if all notes have been played fully."
2017
[12]
References
^ Michael K. McIntyre, The Plain Dealer (2011-10-01). "Claim to world record for 'Balloonfest '86' is not all hot air: Michael K. McIntyre's Tipoff" . cleveland . Retrieved 2023-10-01 .
^ Quinn, Chris (2023-06-24). "Where truth ends and fake news begins on Cleveland's 1986 Balloonfest: Letter from the Editor" . cleveland . Retrieved 2023-10-01 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "14 (Thankfully) Discontinued Guinness World Records" . Mental Floss . 2022-05-04. Retrieved 2023-10-01 .
^ a b "60 years on, the categories that Guinness World Records no longer monitors" . Guinness World Records . Retrieved 1 October 2023 .
^ a b c Sullivan, Kate (2021-03-26). "Guinness World Records That Are No Longer Accepted" . Grunge . Retrieved 2023-10-01 .
^ "Longest Kiss World Record Contest Was Discontinued, Guinness Explains Why" . NDTV.com . Retrieved 2023-10-01 .
^ "BBC News | UK | Going underground - what a record!" . news.bbc.co.uk . Retrieved 2023-10-01 .
^ Atwal, Sanj. "What's the limit to how long a human can stay awake? And why we don't monitor the record" . Guinness World Records . Retrieved 2024-05-04 .
^ Zevely, Jeff (2022-08-09). "No sleep for 12 days! Roger Guy English revisits his 1974 world record" . KFMB-TV . Retrieved 2024-01-13 .
^ Keating, Sarah. "The boy who stayed awake for 11 days" . www.bbc.com . Retrieved 2023-10-01 .
^ Brandt, Angela (2021-11-18). "Poway man who relishes a challenge, no matter how crazy, inspires documentary and a beer" . Pomerado News . Retrieved 2024-05-04 .
^ Fastest Violin Player - Guinness World Records , retrieved 2023-11-23 - see pinned comment