Bogatyr breaks into Guinness book of records

Two brand new Guinness world records have been set in Moscow. Russian achievements in this famous book are mostly to do with shows of strength, with Sunday’s event being no exception.

Aleksander Muromsky was the man in spotlight. His objective was to set a world record in an entirely new category – twist three metal frying pans into a tube in less than thirty seconds.

The Russian strongman set a new standard of 15 seconds, which will probably be hard to beat in the near future.

“We agreed to set 10 world records with people from Guinness. My next attempt will be a timed bending of a metal rod on my head. However, the British are always making the rules a bit more difficult, because they know how strong the Russians are,” said Aleksandr Muromsky, smiling.

”But I will train hard and beat all the records,” he added.

After setting his first record of the day Aleksandr didn’t give up and continued making household items absolutely useless. Next up were 1100-page phone books that had to be torn apart from top to bottom.

Now, there's nothing new about ripping up the yellow pages, but Aleksandr Muromsky decided to take things up a notch and tear the books in half with his hands behind his back.

Since no-one has attempted this, the splitting of six books in three minutes became a standing record in a brand new category.

Aleksandr Muromsky and his crew of Russian strongmen travel all over Russia and the near abroad, entertaining the crowds with unique displays of strength.

For many people this show of skill is reminiscent of Russian folk legends, and in particular the “Bogatyr”. The word means “epic character” – someone whose vigor and force protected the Russian land from foreign invasions.

There are plenty of strange Guinness world records, such as one where a man covered his entire body with poisonous spiders, but when it comes to world records from Russia, it's usually along the lines of a feat of strength, or a photo shoot with 1,900 bikini models.