An Australian student has collected a whopping 17 Guinness World Records titles by turning everyday objects into record-breaking feats.
Oscar Lynagh, 20, has used everything from tennis balls to rubber chickens and teabags to onion rings to firmly cement his place in the record books.
His overall technique is a simple one: choose records that require things he already has lying around the house so that practise comes free and easy.
And it’s certainly paid off.
“I started attempting world records during lockdown in 2020 as I was bored and needed something to do,” the food science student confessed.
“I would, instead of scrolling through TikTok or Instagram for one hour every day, try to break a record and have the feeling of achieving something.
@guinnessworldrecords Farthest distance to throw a teabag into a mug ☕ 10 m (32 ft 9.7 in) by Oscar Lynagh 🇦🇺 #tea#teabag#throw#guinnessworldrecords♬ original sound – Guinness World Records
“I do plan on attempting more challenging records. I don’t have a number, but I am aiming to achieve as many as I can get.”
The record he’s most proud of and the one he says was most difficult is farthest distance to throw a teabag into a mug.
After plenty of practise, he achieved an impressive 10 m (32 ft 9.7 in).
Oscar also achieved the farthest throw of a rubber chicken (32.49 m; 106 ft 7 in) and the farthest behind-the-back catch of a tennis ball (39 m; 127 ft 11 in).
The record regular also recently appeared on our social media with his fun record attempt for most table tennis balls bounced and caught in shaving foam on the head in 30 seconds (individual), which he achieved with 12.
@guinnessworldrecords Most table tennis balls bounced and caught in shaving foam on the head in 30 secs 🏓 12 by Oscar Lynagh 🇦🇺 #pingpong#tabletennis#guinnessworldrecords♬ original sound – Guinness World Records
He also has some festive fun with his records, achieving the fastest time to assemble a gingerbread house (1 min 58.26 sec) and the most candy canes hung on a Christmas tree in 30 seconds (31).
And although applications aren’t currently being accepted for it, Oscar and Emily Lynagh currently hold the record for most candy canes hung on a Christmas tree in 30 seconds (team of two) with 44.
Oscar says he’d encourage everyone to give record breaking a go, and his advice to people is to choose something that’s suited to them and keep practising.
Oscar’s other records are:
• Tallest stack of onion rings – 33 cm (1 ft 0.99 in)
• Fastest time to peel and slice a pineapple – 27.07 sec
• Fastest time to bounce a table tennis ball on two bottle caps ten times using alternate hands – 4.81 sec
• Fastest time to decorate six cupcakes – 44.34 sec
• Fastest time to sort 500 g of Peanut M&Ms – 1 min 22.53 sec
• Farthest garlic chives throw – 18.60 m (61 ft)
• Most tacos assembles in one minute (team of two) – 16 with Arie Sombekke (also Australia)
Oscar is such a prolific record breaker that he actually had three more records approved in the time between us writing this article and publishing it!
His new titles are:
• Fastest time to match ten pairs of shoes blindfolded – 34.46 seconds
• Farthest distance to throw a wig – 13.38 m (43 ft 10 in)
• Farthest throw and catch of a sausage roll into the mouth – 43 m (141 ft)