These Guinness World Records Were Broken In IL In 2025

It was another record-breaking year in Illinois. The state was home to a plethora of achievements, from children achieving adult goals to the longest billboard and the largest collection of surprising items.

The following things and people in Illinois were dubbed "officially amazing" in 2025:

Nour El Sherbini, a squash player from Egypt, broke the world record for most squash World Open titles as a woman on May 17. She defeated her competitor in Chicago, making it her 10th consecutive world champion final and her 11th in total. El Sherbini is tied for most wins (eight) of the PSA World Championships (female) with Nicol David, of Malaysia.

On Aug. 1, Stanley Chapel achieved the fastest time to solve a 5x5x5 rotating puzzle cube while blindfolded — in 2 minutes and 2.28 seconds. He did it at the CubingUSA Great Lakes Championship in Normal. Chapel also holds the record for the fastest average time to solve the same puzzle (in 2 minutes and 27.63 seconds).

Illinois became home to the longest indoor printed billboard on April 22. Clear Channel Outdoor, an advertising company, and Swedish software company IFS broke the record with its 304-foot-8.41-inch billboard within Terminal 3 of the Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

What is the world record for most places of worship visited in one month? One hundred eighty-five, a record achieved Sept. 29 by Vicki Michela Garlock in Chicago.

At 32 years and 292 days old, Sonny, a cockatiel who lives in Northbrook, was confirmed to be the oldest living creature of his species, as of Oct. 29.

Salacnib "Sonny" Molina broke the Guinness World Record title April 9 in Woodstock for the largest collection of salt and pepper sachets, at 594 matching pairs. Molina has achieved 12 collection-based world records, and his goal is to collect the most collection records in the world.

Molina also holds the record for the largest collection of Pringles tubes — 1,262. He achieved the record on April 9 in Woodstock. The tubes are from around the world, but his favorite is an old yellow one since it reminds him of his mom as she would buy them for him as a child.

A few months later, on June 7 in Woodstock, Molina broke his third record of the year — the largest collection of finger puppets (2,978). He previously achieved this record in 2023, but it was broken a few years later, so he collected more finger puppets to reclaim his title. Molina's favorite is of a surgical nurse because it's his profession.

The fastest swim short course for a woman swimming the 100-meter backstroke was achieved Oct. 18 in Westmont. Regan Smith broke the record with her 54.02-second swim.

On May 7 in Naperville, Madeline Mansell achieved the fastest time to make a cupcake pyramid in under 16 seconds, at 3.14 seconds. She made the attempt after seeing the record in the Guinness World Records 2025 book she received for Christmas the previous winter.

A gigantic cabinet, built by Strong Hold to weigh more than 4 tonnes, broke the record on March 17 for the largest steel cabinet, at 6.94 meters by 3.2 meters by 2.14 meters. It's so big that it can fit 30,000 Guinness World Record books inside. Every piece used to build the cabinet was sourced from and made in the United States.

A 3-year-old girl, Sarvia Hasan, became the youngest girl to ever publish a book, verified Nov. 10 in Springfield. Born prematurely, Sarvia has developed a strong imagination as well as strong verbal and creative writing skills.

Naperville was also the city where, on Oct. 17, Eric Klabel broke the record for the tallest toothpick sculpture, measuring 17.32 feet. Klabel attempted the record after previously achieving a similar record using popsicle sticks.

Elizabeth Pehota became the fastest marathon runner with multiple sclerosis when she finished the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 12 in 3 hours, 12 minutes and 13 seconds. Pehota was diagnosed with MS in 2022, four days before running the Berlin Marathon. She wanted to break the marathon to show herself and others that such diagnoses don't have to stop you from achieving goals.

Mark Jones became the male titleholder of the greatest distance run carrying a 40-lb backpack in 24 hours on Nov. 7 in Belvidere. He traversed 88.67 miles to break the record.

A group of three men — Joabe Bayer Barbosa, representing Brazil; James Barbosa, the United Kingdom; and Matthew Plese, the United States — achieved the fastest time to travel all Chicago subway stations, in 8 hours, 58 minutes and 55 seconds, on Nov. 10. Until then, this Guinness World Records title did not have a single record holder. If working with a team, all participants were required to travel as one unit. The three men accomplished their goal during a snowstorm while wearing large Chicago flags.

On June 14 in Chicago, Lynn Biyendolo became the Guinness title-holder for most regular-season goals scored by a player in the National Women's Soccer League. Biyendolo scored two league goals for Seattle Reign in 2025 to extend her all-time record to 82.

The fastest time to craft five iron tools in Minecraft with a mouse and keyboard is 2 minutes and 16 seconds, a time achieved by Alex Matysik on Jan. 11 in Western Springs.

At 4 years and 296 days old, Bennett Haried became the youngest male TEDx speaker when he gave a talk Oct. 23 at Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove. In his talk named "Building Big Dreams: You Have to Make It Stable," Haried began by discussing his love for building towers from Lego bricks, wooden blocks and spaghetti.