What Is the World Record for Longest Gum Chewing?
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, there currently is no official record for the longest gum chewing. They do have several other records listed, including “Longest Gum Wrapper Chain”, “Most People Simultaneously Blowing Bubbles,” and even the “Largest Bubble Blown from the Nose.” The internet lists several people who have attempted to set records for chewing gum. However, there is yet to be any substantiated claims for this event.
Longest Gum Wrapper Chain
The world record for the longest gum wrapper chain is held by Gary Duschl from Virginia Beach, Virginia. Garry began making his gum wrapper chain on March 11, 1965. The recording was performed on March 11, 2016. Having spent 51 years making the chain, Gary’s gum wrapper chain measured 27,259 meters. This equates to 1,463 meters, or 4.8 feet each day during this time. Gary held this record since 1995.
Gary’s gum wrapper chain contained 2,142,856 wrappers which held a value of $150,000 worth of gum. Each of the wrappers was from Wrigley chewing gum, which included Juicy Fruit, Doublemint, Spearmint, Big Red and Winterfresh varieties. The chain weighed 1,260 pounds when completed. It is estimated that it would take approximately 6 hours for a person to walk from one end of the gum wrapper chain to the other.
Most People Simultaneously Blowing Bubbles
Bernie Williams, New York Yankees legend, partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. on July 11, 2018 to set out for the world record for the “Most People Blowing Chewing Gum Bubbles Simultaneously.” The attempt was held at the Minor League Baseball Eastern Conference held at Arm and Hammer Park in Trenton, New Jersey. The 881 participants were recorded chewing gum for at least one minute followed by blowing a bubble with the chewing gum that would remain inflated for at least 30 seconds. Their goal was met.
The purpose of the challenge was to bring awareness to a rare lung disease known as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This was a condition that Bernie’s father was diagnosed with and later passed away from in 2001. The disease is known to leave a person breathless just by performing simple everyday tasks such as walking or even breathing normally throughout the day—or blowing bubbles.
Largest Bubble Blown from the Nose
On November 10, 2000, Joyce Samuels from Louisville, Kentucky blew the largest bubble from her nose. The recorded size of the bubble was 27.94 centimeters or 11 inches in diameter. This was recorded on the set of the Guinness World Records Primetime in Los Angeles, California.
Joyce has claimed to be chewing bubble gum since she was 12 years old. She began blowing bubbles with her nose as a form of entertaining her children. She has stated that she pre-chews the gum for a minimum of one hour. This allows for the sugar in the gum to be thoroughly removed. Joyce says this makes it more pliable. Before placing the gum on her nose, she forms it into a rectangular shape using her hands. The gum is then placed over both nostrils where it can fill with the exhaled air easily.