Inspiration Not Impossible At World Record Games
On November 14th, Auckland, New Zealand, phone-books will be torn, carpenter’s nails broken, giant balloon hats made and shopping trolleys pushed in the name of challenging the impossible, and breaking world records along the way.

Jumped, thrown and run successfully in Zurich, Switzerland and Munich, Germany since the 1980s, the Impossibility-Challenger festival of record smashing is being staged in New Zealand for the first time, and Director Budhsamudra Knox is confident that success will not be impossible—“We think Kiwis have what it takes to step up to the mark.”
Attempting to cross that mark, and in world record time, is an international field of participants including Alistair Galpin, the New Zealander with the most World Records, Albert Walter of Switzerland, a bench press champion who tears phone books better than anybody else, and a team of mechanics who will attempt the 4-man car wheel change world record.
The impossibility challenging event also encompasses the Self-Transcendence Games, where hundreds of school children will compete together with celebrities in just for fun events like hula-hoop racing and catching an egg thrown the greatest distance.
The Impossibility-Challenger games were founded in 1982 by the late peace visionary Sri Chinmoy, upon the premise that challenging limitations and the seemingly impossible not only brings the individual joy, but inspires others to transcend that which is challenging in their lives as well.
The event is organised by the Sri Chinmoy Centre, a prolific non-profit organisation also responsible for the world’s largest participant torch relay, the World Harmony Run, and The Oneness-Heart-Tears and Smiles humanitarian aid programme.
Related
Stories
First-hand experiences of meditation and spirituality.
'I could find out myself, but it was so much easier asking your soul'
Mridanga Spencer Ipswich, United Kingdom
Learning to follow my intuition
Saranyu Pearson Geelong, Australia
10-Day Race: Staring into the Infinite
Patanga Cordeiro São Paulo, Brazil
Failures are the pillars of success
Anugata Bach New York, United States
In the Whirlwind of Life
Pradeep Hoogakker The Hague, Netherlands
Why run 3100 miles?
Smarana Puntigam Vienna, Austria
I just knew from the moment I saw him
Ashrita Furman New York, United States
My life with Sri Chinmoy
Namrata Moses New York, United States
Just go with it and jump!
Gabriele Settimi San Diego, United States
My first Guru
Adarini Inkei Geneva, Switzerland
“Where there is heart, always there is a way.”
Jogyata Dallas Auckland, New Zealand
A spiritual name is the name of our soul, and what we can become
Nayak Polissar Seattle, United States
'Always say things in such a way as to inspire people, not discourage them'
Pradhan Balter Chicago, United StatesSuggested videos
interviews with Sri Chinmoy's students
Why we organise ultra-distance events
Subarnamala Riedel Zurich, Switzerland
Running for peace in the South Pacific
Nirbhasa Magee Dublin, IrelandWhen I met Sri Chinmoy for the first time
Baridhi Yonchev Sofia, Bulgaria
Meditation functions with Sri Chinmoy
Kokila Chamberlain Bristol, United Kingdom
How can we create harmony in the world?
Baridhi Yonchev Sofia, Bulgaria
Humorous moments with Sri Chinmoy
Toshala Elliott Auckland, New Zealand