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How to break a world record

Nate Edwards/BYU Photo

Rory Linkletter broke the world record for the Blue Jean Mile in July 2017.  (Nate Edwards/BYU Photo)

Daniel Reneer was one of the BYU students who attempted to break the world record for most stacked hammocks in 2016.

The tallest recorded hammock tower recorded was 30 hammocks and about 60 feet tall, according to Reneer.

Reneer said three things made the record impossible to break: the area in which the students attempted to break the record didn't allow for a tall enough hammock tower, the  hammocks couldn't touch in order for them to break the record and safety became an issue.

'The thought of putting people that don't necessarily have a lot of experience with rock climbing or hammocking that high in a hammock gets really scary and legally complicated really fast,' Reneer said.

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BYU students attempted to break the world record for most stacked hammocks in 2016. (Adriel Johnson)

Reneer said he had a good experience communicating with Guinness World Records and may attempt another record in the future.

The Guinness World Record website outlines basic standards for recording and obtaining a world record. World records must be measurable, breakable, standardizable and verifiable. It is key to understand the specific standards that apply to individual records in order to hold the record.

The Guinness site expressly advocates against certain record types, including excessive eating, illegal activities and wasting food.

Self-service record approval applications for existing titles are free of charge, and applications for new titles cost $5. Applications take 12 weeks for approval.

Records by BYU students


  • BYU Student and Academic Advisement Services hosted the world's largest water balloon fight in 2010. The event lasted six minutes and included 3,927 participants and 120,021 balloons.
Ari Davis

BYU alumnus Romane Armand broke the record for the longest freestyle rap of 24 hours and 48 minutes in 2016. (Ari Davis)


  • The World Record Academy recognized BYU in 2012 for the longest maple bar (Cougar Tail). A marketing class made the Cougar Tail along with BYU Dining Services. The maple bar measured 1,328 feet long.


  • BYU alumnus Romane Armand obtained the Guinness World Record for the longest freestyle rap in 2016. The rap lasted 24 hours and 49 seconds.


  • BYU All-American runner Rory Linkletter broke the world record for the fastest mile ran in blue jeans in 2017. He completed the mile in 4:16.00 at 4,600 feet of altitude in Provo. The mile time was adjusted to 4:11.00 after standardizing based on the altitude.

Utah Records