On Sept. 19, 2014, Egyptian Ahmed Gabr broke the Guinness World Record for Deepest Dive (Male), unleashing a wave of Egyptian pride for having one of their own listed in the coveted book.
But did you know that Egyptians hold some 35-40 world records, according to Guinness World Records Official Adjudicator Talal Omar?
Here are 17 of the most incredible modern world records held by Egyptians:
Largest Food Court: Oasis Restaurants and Entertainment, Cairo
With 41,000 square meters and 25 restaurants and cafes that can seat up to 4,223 people, Oasis restaurants and entertainment beat the previous record-holder Tivoli Dome in Cairo on Aug. 4, 2010. The complex was designed by El Ghoneimi Architects and also includes kids’ zones, two cinemas and a parking lot that can hold up to 1,000 cars.
Fastest Vehicle Crossing the Western Desert: Hisham Nessim
Hisham Nessim traveled from Siwa to Abu Simbel – approximately 1370 km – in 13 hours and 33 minutes on Nov. 10, 2009.
Nessim also holds the Guinness World Records for Fastest Vehicle Crossing of the Gilf Al-Kebir Plateau and Fastest Vehicle Crossing of the Great Sand Sea (Sahara).
Most Blood Glucose Tests Taken in 24 Hours: Egyptian Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation
The Egyptian Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation successfully conducted 8,600 blood glucose tests in 24 hours on Dec. 6, 2013 at the Mall of Arabia in Cairo.
Most Two-Finger Push Ups (One Arm) in One Minute: Mohammed Mohammed Ali Zeinhom
On Mar. 8, 2010, Mohammed Mohammed Ali Zeinhom completed 46 push ups in 49 seconds using his right thumb and pointer finger only, on a raised table in front of the Giza pyramids.
Most Landmines Per Country
Egypt contains about 23 million unexploded landmines, which were planted during World War II and the Egypt-Israel wars of 1956, 1967 and 1973. Some 10 million others have already been cleared from Sinai and the Western Desert.
Most Wins of the Football (Soccer) Africa Cup of Nations: Egypt National Team
Egypt’s national team has won seven Africa Cup of Nations championships: 1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Most National Teams of Different Sports Captained: Alaa El-Din Gabr
Alaa El-Din Gabr has captained the Egyptian national team for swimming (1970-78), modern pentathlon (1980) and tenpin bowling (1997-98).
Hydronephrosis – Most Fluids Removed: 35-year-old Egyptian patient
A 35-year-old Egyptian patient had 22 litres of urine removed from his kidney on Jun. 16, 1999 at a hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The patient had hydronephrosis, a condition in which the kidney is enlarged due to a blockage in normal urine flow.
Highest Jump Out of Water Wearing a Monofin: Soliman Sayed
Soliman Sayed jumped 2 m out of the water wearing a monofin on Apr. 27, 2011 in Milan, setting a world record along with Italians Cesare Fumarola and Stefano Figini for the television series Lo Show Dei Record.
Heaviest Powerlift (-82.5 kg, Female): Heba Ahmed
At the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, Heba Ahmed completed a lift of 155 kg in the women’s -82.5 kg division.
Heaviest Powerlift (-56 kg, Female): Fatma Omar
At the 2012 London Paralympic Games, Fatma Omar completed a lift of 143 kg in the women’s -56 kg division. She went on to win the gold medal in this class.
Heaviest Powerlift (-100 kg, Male): Mohamed Eldib
At the 2012 London Paralympic Games, Mohamed Eldib completed a lift of 249 kg in the men’s -100 kg division. He went on to win the gold medal in this class.
Heaviest Powerlift (-56 kg, Male and -52 kg, Male): Sherif Othman
Sherif Othman completed a lift of 206.5 kg in the men’s -56 kg division in Dubai on Feb. 23, 2012. On Mar. 28, 2010, Othman completed a lift of 191 kg in the en’s -52 kg division in Dubai.
Farthest Shot Put (F38, Male): Ibrahim Ahmed Abdelwareth
Ibrahim Ahmed Abdelwareth holds the world record for farthest F38 shot put with a 15.58 meter throw in Christchurch, New Zealand on Jan. 27, 2011.
Largest Human Air-Bed (Lilo) Dominoes: P&G Middle East and Africa
As part of a P&G MEA team-building event, 267 participants completed the largest human mattress domino chain at the Mövenpick Hotel in Hurghada on Aug. 25, 2014.
WE SAID THIS: All facts were taken from the official Guinness World Records site. Don’t miss “Inside the World’s Deepest Dive with Egyptian Ahmed Gabr“.