Kenneth Glad
An American record challenger has taken on another small but demanding speed test. Whether it becomes official now depends on the review process.
David Rush, who posts as Record Breaker Rush, has built a following by attempting niche Guinness World Records titles. According to his website, he has broken more than 350 titles since 2015.
PEOPLE reports that Rush’s latest attempt happened during a 15-day Disney cruise with his family in 2025, where passengers helped time and witness the challenge.
Cruise ship setup
Rush said on his website that preparation was simple but precise.
“I set up a long table and lined up 100 diamond-cut toothpicks, each one exactly 6.6 centimeters long, laying them flat with the ends off the edge so I could grab them easily,” he wrote.
Rush said each toothpick had to split fully into two separate pieces to count. After the minute ended, the broken pieces were gathered and matched to check the total.
“For one full minute, I just went to town on the pile, grabbing and snapping as fast as my hands could move. The room was electric, people were cheering, and wood fragments were flying,” he recalled.
Awaiting approval
Rush said he snapped 84 toothpicks in 60 seconds. According to PEOPLE, the current Guinness World Records mark is 58, held by Harrison Niswander.
“I didn’t just beat the old record; I cleared it by 26 toothpicks, which is about a 45% jump,” Rush wrote.
The result has not been confirmed by Guinness World Records. Attempts typically require evidence such as video, witness statements, and precise measurements before a title is approved.
London record spree
The toothpick claim comes after another notable record push.
Guinness World Records reported in 2024 that Rush broke 15 records in one day at its London headquarters.
Those titles included apple-biting while juggling, table tennis ball challenges, basketball passes, paper airplane folding, T-shirt stacking, and other timed feats.
“This one feels good. This just goes to show, if you set your mind to a goal, believe in yourself and pursue it with a passion, you can accomplish virtually anything,” Rush said that day.
Sources: PEOPLE, Rush’s website, Guinness World Records.
