The Guinness Book of Records has long fascinated readers with its collection of extraordinary human achievements, bizarre talents, and mind-boggling feats. For many, flipping through its pages was a childhood ritual, sparking dreams of one day setting a record of their own. While most never pursued those ambitions beyond idle curiosity, Melbourne resident Sruthy Saseendran turned that dream into reality by securing a Guinness World Record in a category she created herself.
Saseendran entered the Guinness World Records last year for the most airports identified in one minute using IATA codes—the three-letter identifiers assigned to airports worldwide (for instance, JFK for John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York). She named an astonishing 95 airports in 60 seconds, setting a record in a category she created herself.
Born in a small town near Trivandrum, the capital of the southern Indian state of Kerala, Saseendran never envisioned herself as a world record holder. In fact, she explained, ambition beyond conventional career paths wasn’t particularly encouraged.
“I come from a very traditional family—my father was a teacher, my mother was a housewife. It was a typical middle-class upbringing where you were expected to have normal, middle-class dreams,” she said. “But even as a child, I wanted to challenge myself and leave a mark.”
Her path to record-breaking stemmed from two key strengths: a fascination with airports and an exceptional memory. “I really like airports and have a knack for retaining information,” she explained. “By combining these two, I found a way to enter that prestigious book.”
However, the journey wasn’t without obstacles. Saseendran’s initial applications were rejected. Her first proposal—to name 250 IATA codes in five minutes—was deemed too difficult to verify.
“They didn’t think it was feasible,” she recounted. “It was only after I reduced the time to one minute that they approved the challenge.”
Preparing for the record was a rigorous process. Given that there are over 17,000 airport codes worldwide—some with unexpected designations, such as LOL for Derby Field Airport in Nevada—memorisation required immense dedication.
“For the past year, I woke up at 4:30 am every morning and studied for two hours,” she said. “I used flashcards and a massive Excel spreadsheet to memorise the codes.”
The Guinness World Records organisation set strict conditions: the attempt had to be conducted using a website that randomly generated codes and overseen by two independent witnesses. On the day of the attempt, nerves got the better of her.
“My personal best is actually 104 airports in 60 seconds, but I got a little nervous,” she admitted.
Saseendran officially set the record in December, with her certificate arriving this week. Now part of the Guinness World Records elite, she hopes her achievement inspires others.
“Create a record and break it,” she said. “It’s easy to apply, and I’m proof that anything is possible.”
This story was compiled using quotes and information from The Age.
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