Between the French stops of Lorraine and Champagne-Ardennes, trains reach an average speed of 279.4 km/h (167.66 km in 36 minutes) according to the last official Railway Gazette International World Speed Survey study in 2005. While this figure is almost half the speed of the fastest train speed ever – 574.8 km/h by a modified TGV V150 in 2007 – it represents a realistic, affordable, environmentally sound and safe top speed.
The fastest segmented completion of the PlayStation version of Final Fantasy Tactics (Square, 1997) took 4 hr 45 min, and was achieved by John Kearsley IV in 37 segments, on 21 June 2007. Kearsley’s run makes extensive use of glitches and the “Math Skill” ability, which allows the player to clear an entire battlefield in one turn – essential for completing the game’s 50-plus levels quickly. Featured in Guinness World Records Gamer”s Edition 2010
Riven, the sequel to Myst, became the top-selling game of 1997, even though it was only released on 29 October of that year. It sold almost 1.5 million copies in three months, making it the fastest-selling “point ’n’ click” sequel ever. Riven’s success was recognised at Bafta’s first Interactive Entertainment Awards in 1998, where it had the most nominations of any media: In Sound, Moving Images and Design.
The Boeing 787, Dreamliner, is the latest passenger jet from Boeing, and it can seat 210 to 330 passengers depending on variant. It was launched in April 2004 and, by the time of its roll out on 8 June 2007, it had become the fastest selling wide body airliner in history with 677 orders and by September 2010, 846 aircraft, valued at US$164 billion, had been ordered by 56 customers making it the most successful launch of an airliner.
The fastest serve of a tennis ball was 251 km/h (156 mph) by Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) in the fourth set of a doubles match against Germany in the 2011 Davis Cup on 5 March 2011. The 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Karlovic”s previous best serve clocked in at 246 km/h (153 mph) in 2007.
Ray Kozak (USA) managed to complete a 100 m sprint in 17.61 seconds while doing 23 consecutive Texas skips, at the Warren County Middle School, McMinnville, Tennessee, USA on the 26 February 2005.
The fastest and first ever solo and unsupported crossing of the Antarctic continent was achieved by Børge Ousland (Norway), who completed the 2,690 km (1,675 mile) trek on 18 January 1997, 64 days after setting out on 15 November 1996. He dragged his 185 kg (408 lb) supply sled from Berkner Island in the Weddell Sea to Scott Base in McMurdo Sound.
Børge Ousland (Norway) skied his way to the North Pole from the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago in the Russian Federation without any external assistance in 52 days from 2 March to 23 April 1994. He was also the first person to make a solo and unsupported journey to the North Pole from land. He did not use any form of motorised transport or parafoil kites.
Hannah McKeand (UK) skied her way to the South Pole from the Hercules Inlet at the edge of the Antarctic continent in 39 days 9 hr 33 min between 19 November and 28 December 2006. The former marketing manager made the journey – in 24 hours of sunshine – without resupplies. She ate noodles for breakfast and a freeze-dried meal for dinner, and snacked throughout the day on chocolate, salami, and the explorer’s favourite, Kendal mint cake – a total of around 6,000 calories day.
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