World record

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For the short film from The Animatrix, see World Record (The Animatrix).

A world record normally refers to the best sporting performance ever recorded. Guinness World Records collate and publish notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world.

[edit] Terminology

In the United States the form world's record was formerly more common. The term world best was also briefly in use.^{[citation needed]} The latter term is still used in athletics (track and field) to describe performances not recognized as an official world record: either because the event is a non-qualifying event (e.g. the 500 yards run or individual events in a decathlon), or because it does not fulfill other criteria of an otherwise qualifying event (e.g. the Great North Run half-marathon, which has an excessive downhill gradient).

[edit] In culture

Malaysia is one country where world record-breaking has become something of a national fad.^[1] In India the setting and of breaking records is popular: the country has a local version of the Guinness Book of Records, called the Limca Book of Records, after a local soft drink brand.