California Shatters Records in 2025, But Wildfires Claim Historic Collection

Sergio Ramos defied age and expectations when he stepped onto the pitch in Pasadena last June, becoming the oldest scorer in FIFA World Cup history at 39 years and 80 days old.

The Mexican defender’s goal against Inter Milan in a 1-1 draw was just one of 25 California world records set or broken in 2025, marking the 70th anniversary of Guinness World Records with achievements ranging from athletic feats to quirky collections.

But the year’s triumphs were tempered by loss. The Bunny Museum in Altadena, which housed over 60,000 bunny items including antiquities more than 2,000 years old, lost nearly its entire collection to the Eaton Fire. Only about 20 items survived the flames. A fundraiser has raised over $82,586.

California’s record-breaking year showcased both the extraordinary and the unusual.

In Davis, Zachary Bebehlor grew a Jerusalem artichoke measuring 16 feet, 11.54 inches tall. The plant’s exceptional height came from fertilizing it twice and its ideal access to vertical sunlight.

Beverly Hills resident Annie Judis, 81, claimed two records. She completed 99 rope skips on a trampoline in one minute and performed a farmer’s walk carrying weights over 20 meters. The former actress and fitness influencer has made world records her passion in her octogenarian years.

Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank became the most prolific animation studio, having released 63 feature-length animated films. The latest, Moana 2, followed the studio’s first feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which premiered in Los Angeles in 1937.

Some records united communities in purpose.

In Sebastopol, 1,167 people participated in the largest opioid reversal training at Analy High School. The 30-minute session, organized by Micah’s Hugs, trained participants to save lives.

After the Los Angeles wildfires, a group at PNC Bank used 1,461 soccer balls to spell “Rise up L.A.” The balls were later donated to youth sports programs.

The year brought records both serious and whimsical.

A Rancho Mirage pickleball pair, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns, won 45 mixed doubles titles between January 2022 and January 2025, becoming the most successful duo in the sport.

In Menlo Park, Leon Laniado peeled eight mandarins in one minute, beating the previous record for his age group. He ate all of them with his family afterward.

A California family discovered they owned the world’s most expensive comic book when Superman #1 sold for $9.12 million. Found in an attic, protected in a cardboard box, it had belonged to their late mother.

Other achievements included 1,423 people playing Red Light, Green Light in Anaheim, a vintage 1970s Cadillac ambulance traveling 3,233 miles from Hollywood, California, to Hollywood, Florida, and a Los Gatos girl completing 128 hula hoop rotations around her neck in 30 seconds.

From Carlsbad to Yuba City, Californians proved that world records come in all forms – even 711 colorful golf tees arranged in hair!