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SSAI Sword Swallowers Set Multiple World Records From left: Travis Fessler, Keith Nelson, John Metz, Dan Meyer, Natasha Veruschka, Red Stuart, Roderick Russell, Matt the Knife Cassiere, and Charles "Crispy" Knight set the new world's record by swallowing 52 swords at the 4th annual SSAI Big Swallow.
WILKES-BARRE, PA – At midnight in a small sleepy town in upstate Pennsylvania, nine sword swallower members of the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) broke the 2002 SSAI and Guinness World Records by simultaneously swallowing a total of 52 swords on September 3, 2005 at the 4th Annual Sideshow Gathering and SSAI "Big Swallow" in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
The previous world's record for mass sword swallowing had initially been set during SSAI's first "Big Swallow" at the first Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers Convention on August 30, 2002 when 19 sword swallowers simultaneously gulped down 50 swords before an audience of sideshow industry experts, historians, performers, fans and international media.The feat was certified by Guinness World Records in London as an official Guinness World Record in early 2005. This year's record increased the number to 52 swords swallowed, a feat made even more amazing by the fact there were fewer sword swallowers participating than in previous years.
Some of the participants who broke the world record this weekend were veteran sword swallowers, while others have been swallowing swords for only a few months. “I'm proud to have been part of this historical record-breaking event. Just being on stage with legends like Natasha Veruschka, Red Stuart and Keith Nelson was very humbling. To actually be part of helping break a world record was the event of a lifetime,” beamed Travis Fessler who set his personal best by swallowing two swords. “The old record that I wasn't part of was 50 swords, the new record I am part of is 52; Even though I only swallowed two swords, I feel like my participation really helped put us over the top!”
The sword swallowers who broke the world's records were Red Stuart of Philadelphia, PA swallowing 25 swords, Natasha Veruschka of New York city (11 swords), Dan Meyer of Nashville, TN (7 swords), Keith Nelson of New York (3 swords), Travis Fessler of Florence, KY (2 swords), Roderick Russell from Vermont (1 sword), Matt “the Knife” Cassiere of Rhode Island (1 sword), John Metz from Iowa (1 sword), and Charles "Crispy" Knight who swallowed one sword after making the long drive from Denver, Colorado for the event. The number of swords and swallowers was audited by a local accounting firm, witnessed and verified by veteran sideshow owners Chris Christ and Slim Price, and confirmed by sideshow historian James Taylor.
Stuart’s accomplishment will also be submitted to Guinness as an individual world record. “The closest any one person has come to swallowing that many swords was when Edith Clifford was reported to have swallowed 20 swords in 1900...” explains SSAI Director and historian Dan Meyer. “What an honor it was to be standing next to Red and watch him make history by breaking a 105-year-old record!”
On Sunday afternoon, September 5, 2005, Travis Fessler set another personal record by cracking a bull whip 17 consecutive times while swallowing a sword to set a new SSAI record for "Whip Cracking While Sword Swallowing". Besides being recognized as an SSAI World Record, this record will also be submitted to Guinness World Records in London for consideration as a new Guinness World Record, as well as be sent to the Alternative World Records in Leipzig, Germany to be added to their record books.
At Sunday morning's awards brunch, veteran sword swallowers Count Desmond, Red Stuart, and Natasha Veruschka were honored with SSAI Lifetime Achievement Awards. An SSAI Certificate of Appreciation award was given to Franco Kossa in appreciation of his dedication to supporting and promoting the art of sword swallowing and other sideshow arts by sponsoring the Sideshow Gathering over the past four years.
The art of sword swallowing began over 4000 years ago in India and the Middle East, and requires the practitioner to use mind-over-matter techniques to control the body and repress natural reflexes in order to insert up solid steel blades from 15 to 25 inches down the esophagus and into the stomach. With the demise of the traveling circus sideshow over the past thirty years, there are currently less than forty full-time professional sword swallowers actively performing the ancient but deadly art of sword swallowing around the world today.
The Sword Swallowers Association International is based in Nashville, TN and is comprised of sword swallower members from around the world.
Sword Swallowers Attempt to Break World RecordAugust 1, 2005
WILKES-BARRE, PA -- At midnight Friday, September 2nd, 2005, top sword swallowers from around the world will attempt to break the Guinness World's Record for the "Most Swords Swallowed by Multiple Sword Swallowers" under the auspices of the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI) at the 4th Annual Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Veteran sideshow owners, historians, fans and performers including fire-eaters, sword swallowers, fakirs, human blockheads, and other top variety performers from around the world will assemble over Labor Day weekend for the 4th Annual Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers’ Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Held September 1-4, 2005 in conjunction with the 12th Annual Inkin’ the Valley Tattoo Show at the Ramada Plaza Hotel Wilkes-Barre, the combined events are expected to attract more than 5,000 attendees and approximately half of the less than 40 remaining professional sword swallowers left performing around the world today. The world's record for multiple sword swallowers swallowing multiple swords was initially set on Friday, August 20, 2002 during SSAI’s first “Big Swallow” at the first Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers Convention when 19 of the world’s top sword swallowers simultaneously swallowed 46 swords before an audience of sideshow industry experts, historians, performers, fans and international media. The group’s mass record was broken a few minutes later when the 19 sword swallowers successfully gulped down a total of 50 blades simultaneously on their second attempt, thereby setting the current standing world's record. While helping set the group world record, belly dancing sword swallower Natasha Veruschka from New York set the individual women's record by swallowing 11 swords at once, while Dai Andrews from Baltimore set the men's individual record by swallowing 11 swords in one swallow. The number of sword swallowers and swords was audited by a local accounting firm, verified by veteran sideshow owner Ward Hall, and confirmed by sideshow historian James Taylor. The historic event was filmed by Shocked and Amazed TV for the Travel Channel, and witnessed by attendees, media and CNN viewers around the world on CNN International. In August 2003 at the 2nd Annual Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers Convention, SSAI unsuccessfully attempted to break its previous record, with only 17 sword swallowers successfully swallowing a total of 32 swords at the same time. Natasha Veruschka broke her previous women's record to set her personal best by simultaneously swallowing 12 swords at once. The event was witnessed by sideshow industry experts and fans, and filmed for the television documentary "Stomachs of Steel" which aired on the Discovery Channel in July 2004. On Friday, September 2nd, SSAI members will again attempt to break the current SSAI and Guinness World Record at the 4th Annual Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers Convention. Several new and veteran sword swallowers are slated to attend and attempt to break the standing world record before an audience of fellow sideshow industry performers, historians, and fans. “We're excited about the response this year, and we're optimistic about breaking the 2002 world records, as well as hopefully setting several new sword swallowing records never attempted before!” says SSAI Executive Director, Dan Meyer. Additional individual world record attempts will be made on Sunday afternoon, September 4th for those sword swallowers and other sideshow performers who would like to attempt to set or break their own personal records. The art of sword swallowing developed over 4000 years ago in India and the Middle East, and requires the practitioner to use mind-over-matter techniques to control the body and repress natural reflexes in order to insert solid steel blades from 15 to 25 inches down the esophagus and into the stomach. With the demise of the traveling circus sideshow over the past thirty years, there are currently less than forty full-time professional sword swallowers left actively performing the ancient but deadly art of sword swallowing around the world today.
The Sword Swallowers Association International is based in Nashville, TN and is comprised of sword swallower members from around the world.
Sword Swallower/Sideshow Operator DiesMay 31, 2005GIBSONTON, FL - Sword swallower and sideshow operator Dean Potter died yesterday at his Gibsonton, FL home at the age of 71. Potter had worked as a sword swallower and half-and-half for the Woolsey shows in the 1950s before framing his own sideshow. In the 1970's, Potter developed the "Bloody Mama Snake Show" based on an article he had read about a snake that had killed its owner. Potter had been on the road with his show for many years, developed diabetes, and passed away in his sleep in Gibsonton, FL on May 30th at the age of 71.
Guinness Awards Women's World Record in Sword SwallowingFebruary 4, 2005LONDON, ENGLAND - Guinness World Records (www.guinnessworldrecords.com) announced that it has awarded SSAI sword swallower Natasha Veruschka the official Guinness World Record for swallowing 13 swords at one time at SSAI's 2004 "Big Swallow" at the 3rd Annual Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers Convention in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania on September 3, 2004. Veruschka had previously swallowed 11 swords at the 2002 "Big Swallow", and topped her own record the following year by swallowing 12 swords at the 2003 "Big Swallow". There are currently only about half a dozen female sword swallowers performing around the world today. The previous Guinness World record for women sword swallowers was held by Amy Saunders in England for swallowing five blades at one time in London in 1999. Saunders later broke her own record by swallowing six swords on the set of El Show de los Récords in Madrid, Spain on 27 November 2001. Previous to that, American sword swallower Lady Sandra Reed held the women's Guinness World Record in 1975 for swallowing 5 blades at one time.
SSAI Sword Swallowers Awarded Guinness World RecordFebruary 1, 2005LONDON, ENGLAND - Guinness World Records (www.guinnessworldrecords.com) announced that it has accepted the Sword Swallowers Association Int'l (SSAI) 2002 record of 19 sword swallowers swallowing 50 swords at one time as the official Guinness World Record for "Most people sword swallowing simultaneously". According to the notification dated 22 December 2004, "A total of 19 sword swallowers (17 men and two women) simultaneously swallowed a total of 50 swords between them at the annual Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers Convention, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA, on 30 August 2002." Although the certificate does not automatically guarantee record holders an entry in the annual Guinness Book of World Records, the Guinness managing editors consider all new records for potential use in future Guinness World Records publications and products. The SSAI "Big Swallow" has been held for the past three years in conjunction with the Sideshow Gathering, and has been covered by international media including CNN, Shocked and Amazed TV, and the Discovery Channel.
Sword Swallowing Convention Discussed on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel LiveJanuary 26, 2005
New York, NY - ABC talk show host Jimmy Kimmel discussed the third annual SSAI Sword Swallowing Convention in his January 26th monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Sword Swallowing Convention Featured in Meetings MagazineAugust 1, 2004
 Third Annual SSAI Sword Swallower's Convention profiled in Meeting Planners magazine along with other unconventional conventions in article entitled "Meetings on the Far Side".
New World Record Successfully SetPerformer Completes Flaming Feast in Kansas CityJuly 31, 2004KANSAS CITY, KS -- On July 30th, 2004, sword swallower and fire manipulator Robert Wolf set a new world record by extinguishing 43 flaming torches in one minute using only his mouth. The previous world record of 36 torches was set in Finland in 2000. Wolf bested that record by 7 torches. Wolf finished the very dangerous record attempt without any injury to others and sustained only minor burns to his mouth. Wolf was assisted by a team of four assistants, as well as qualified medical and fire personnel at the ready. The record, known as 'Fire eating - Most torches extinguished in one minute' is recognized by the Guinness World Records. The record was set between the third and fourth innings during the Kansas City T-Bones baseball game in the Community America Ballpark located in Kansas City, KS.
World's Top Sword Swallowers Attempt to Break World RecordJuly 1, 2004
 WILKES-BARRE, PA -- At midnight on Friday, September 3rd, top sword swallowers from around the world will attempt to break the world's record for the "Most Swords Swallowed by Multiple Sword Swallowers" at the third annual Sword Swallowers Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA under the auspices of the Sword Swallowers Association International (SSAI). Veteran sideshow owners, historians, fans and performers such as fire-eaters, sword swallowers, human blockheads, and other top variety performers from around the world will come together over Labor Day weekend for the third annual Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers' Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel from September 2-6, 2004 in conjunction with the 11th Annual Inkin' the Valley Tattoo Show, the combined events are expected to attract more than 5,000 attendees and over half of the approximately 40 remaining professional sword swallowers left performing around the world today. The original world's record for multiple sword swallowers swallowing multiple swords was first set during SSAI's first "Big Swallow" at the initial Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers Convention on Friday, August 20, 2002 when 19 of the world's top sword swallowers simultaneously swallowed 46 swords before an audience of their peers. The group's mass record was broken a few minutes later when the 19 sword swallowers successfully swallowed a total of 50 blades simultaneously on their second attempt, thereby setting the current standing record. While helping set the record, New York belly dancing sword swallower Natasha Veruschka also set the individual women's record by swallowing 11 swords at once, while Dai Andrews from Baltimore set the men's individual record by swallowing 11 swords in one swallow. The number of sword swallowers and swords was audited by a local accounting firm, verified by veteran sideshow owner Ward Hall and confirmed by sideshow historian James Taylor. The historic event was filmed by CNN and Shocked and Amazed TV for the Travel Channel, and witnessed by attendees, media and CNN viewers around the world on CNN International. At the second annual Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers Convention held in August 2003, SSAI attempted unsuccessfully to break its previous record, with only 17 sword swallowers successfully swallowing a total of 32 swords at the same time. Natasha Veruschka broke her previous women's record to set her personal best by simultaneously swallowing 12 swords at once. The event was witnessed by sideshow industry experts and fans, and filmed by a New Zealand film crew for the Discovery Channel documentary "Stomachs of Steel" which aired in July 2004. On Friday, September 3rd, SSAI will again attempt to break the current world record at the thirrd annual Sideshow Gathering and Sword Swallowers Convention in Wilkes-Barre. Currently over 20 sword swallowers are expected to attend and attempt to swallow over 50-plus swords simultaneously to break the standing record before an audience of fellow sideshow industry experts, peers, and fans. The art of sword swallowing started about 4000 years ago in India and the Middle East, and requires the practitioner to use mind-over-matter techniques to control the body and repress the natural reflexes in order to insert solid steel blades up to 25 inches down the esophagus and into the stomach. With the demise of the traveling circus sideshows over the past thirty years, there are currently less than forty professional sword swallowers left performing the ancient but deadly art of sword swallowing around the world today. The Sword Swallowers Association International is based in Nashville, TN and contains sword swallower members around the world.
Sword Swallower's Convention Filmed for International BroadcastSeptember, 2003
 WILKES-BARRE, PA - The second annual Sword Swallower's Convention and "Big Swallow" world record attempt, held in conjunction with the second annual Sideshow Gathering held in Wilkes-Barre, PA over Labor Day weekend attracted sideshow afficianados, fans and international media from across the country. Even though the seventeen sword swallowers were unsuccessful in their attempt to break their previous year's record of swallowing 50 swords at the same time, there were some highlights and breakthroughs throughout the weekend. Fourteen-year-old Alex Zander Morrow successfully swallowed a 15 inch sword along with the veteran sword swallowers, becoming the youngest verified sword swallower in the world, and belly dancing sword swallower Natasha Veruschka broke her previous women's record to set her personal best by simultaneously swallowing 12 swords at once. The event was witnessed by sideshow industry experts and fans, and filmed by a New Zealand film crew for the Discovery Channel documentary "Stomachs of Steel" to be aired in July 2004.
Irish Sword Swallower Dies in Car AccidentJuly 20, 2003
GALWAY, IRELAND - Sword Swallower Johnny Massacre died on Friday, July 18th 2003 after being involved in a car accident. Massacre (John Doran) had performed throughout Europe, appeared regularly on TV, and was known around the world for performing a variety of circus and sideshow acts including bed of nails, fire-eating, juggling, and unicycle riding (www.johnnymassacre.com). Massacre became well-known for his specialty of swallowing a sword while riding a tall unicycle. Massacre died Friday, July 18th 2003 at the age of 27 after being involved in a three car accident during the Galway Arts Festival (local articles erroneously placed his age at 38). The city of Galway went into a state of mourning and flowers have been placed on his patch. His funeral took place in Longford town on Tuesday, 22nd July at 12 o'clock.
High-Wire Artist Attempts to Castrate Sword SwallowerFebruary 17, 2003DUSSELDORF, GERMANY - A trapeze artist tried to castrate his love rival with a giant pair of pliers. Wilco Schmidt, 56, flipped when girlfriend Katharina Brahms ran off with a hunky sword swallower from the same circus. Impotent Schmidt first tried to hang Katharina with a rope. But the 46-year old - his partner in a high-wire act -wriggled free. He then attacked her 39-year-old lover after telling a friend: "They won't have any more fun in bed." Schmidt chased the sword swallower with the 2ft-long pliers - normally used for castrating bulls. But his rival grabbed the pincers and beat up the acrobat. Schmidt, now a lorry driver, was jailed for seven years in Dusseldorf, Germany, for attempted manslaughter and causing bodily harm.
SSAI Members Set New Sword Swallowing RecordSeptember 1, 2002
 WILKES-BARRE, PA - Nineteen of the top sword swallowers from around the world set the new SSAI world's record for the "Most Sword Swallowers Swallowing Multiple Swords" at the first annual SSAI Sword Swallowers Convention, in conjunction with the first annual SideShow Gathering in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Such a record had never before been set before in the long history of sword swallowing, and the combined conventions were deemed a success by all who attended. On Friday, August 30, 2002, SSAI set the new world's record for the Most Sword Swallowers Swallowing Multiple Swords at Once with a total of 19 sword swallowers from around the world, 17 men and two women, simultaneously swallowing a total of 46 swords. That record was immediately broken upon a second attempt when the 19 sword swallowers successfully swallowed 50 swords at once. The record setting event was emceed by master showman Ward Hall, witnessed by James Taylor and Kathleen Kotcher of Shocked and Amazed, verified by CPA Alphonse D'Amario, and filmed by international media including Shocked and Amazed TV and CNN's Jeanne Moos. (21.5M high bandwidth Real video) SSAI Sword Swallowers who set the SSAI World Record:
Natasha Veruschka Johnny "Red" Stuart Johnny Fox Zamora/Tim Cridland Todd Robbins George The Giant McArthur Lizardman Erik Sprague Keith Nelson Thomas Blackthorne Petur Pokus Finnbjörnsson Julia Jewels Strouzer Bill Berry Frack/Chad Clos Ses Carny/Jesse House Malakai/Michael Todd Damien Blade/Danny Snyder Roderick Russell Belteshazzar/Dan Meyer Natasha Veruschka and Dai Andrews each swallowed 11 swords at once to set the new official SSAI Women's and Men's multiple numbers records. Bill Berry and Keith Nelson passed 6 juggling clubs WHILE swallowing swords to set the new official SSAI record for passing clubs while swallowing!
On Sunday, September 1, SSAI handed out "Golden Sword" lifetime achievement awards to veteran sword swallowers John "Red" Trower and John "Red" Stuart, as well as a lifetime honorary associate SSAI membership to master showman Ward Hall for his many years of promoting the art of sword swallowing in sideshows.
CNN and Shocked & Amazed to Cover Sword Swallowing ConventionAugust 28, 2002
SSAI has received confirmation that CNN's Jeanne Moos and Shocked and Amazed TV will be bringing film crews to cover the First Annual Sword Swallowing Convention in Wilkes-Barre, PA this Labor Day weekend! (High bandwidth Real video clip)
Sword Swallowing Sites Receive World RecognitionJuly 5, 2002
 Have you noticed how the traffic to your sword swallowing website has picked up lately? Well, so have we! SSAI's Sword Swallowing Resources To The Hilt site at www.swordswallow.com has been recently featured on a number of major international portals with over 42,000 hits in only the first two weeks of July alone. Portals in the United States, Japan, France, Brazil, Israel, Finland and the Netherlands have driven traffic to our sites from over 60 different countries as far away as the Ukraine, Estonia, Hungary, Guatemala, Pakistan, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Macedonia. Of course, many of those visitors have clicked on the links to your individual sites and sent traffic your way too! Here are just a few sites that featured our Sword Swallowing To The Hilt site...
USA Today Web Guide Hot Site Time Warner Cable WGN TV Chicago (July 9, 2002 rated 4 Stars!) www.zfilter.com (July 6, 2002) www.metafilter.com (July 7, 2002) TheDaily.com (July 14, 2002) Cool Tricks and Trinkets (July 18, 2002) The Guardian Unlimited UK (July 18, 2002) Search The Planet US portal Japanese portal Finnish portal Finnish portal Spanish portal Portuguese portal Israeli portal Greek portal Croatian portal If you are a sword swallower with a web site, please return the favor and support SSAI by adding links to our sites at: Sword Swallowing To The Hilt - www.swordswallow.com Sword Swallowers Assoc Int'l - www.swordswallow.org
Sword Swallowing Featured in Esquire MagazineJuly 1, 2002
The cover of the August 2002 Esquire magazine teases, “What it Feels Like…15 Amazing Tales of: Shark Attack, Sword-Swallowing, Dwarfs, and Giants”.
1st Annual Sword Swallowing Convention AnnouncedJune 1, 2002
The official announcement has been made! The First Annual Sword Swallowers
Convention is slated to take place from August 30th to September 1st in
Wilkes-Barre, PA! This is destined to be the most important gathering
of sword swallowers and sideshow entertainers in history! Don't miss out!
See our events page and FAQ for full details.
Official SSAI Web Site LaunchedMay 28, 2002
The new website is finally up! Though simply a barebones architecture,
SSAI now has a web presence. Please look to the website for all future
information regarding upcoming events and important announcements. As
usual, SSAI will utilize the sword swallowing discussion lists, but the
SSAI website will house all of the official SSAI announcements and documents in their entirety.
Sword Swallowing Discussion Lists LaunchedMarch 28, 2002
Not on our Sword Swallowing discussion lists?
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During the event, Dan Meyer of Nashville, TN set his own personal record by swallowing 7 swords at once, with blades measuring at least 16 to 24 inches in length and 3/4 to 1 inch in width. New York Belly dancer Natasha Veruschka swallowed a whopping 11 swords, and was ready to add two more to match her own 2004 Guinness World Record of swallowing 13 swords at once. But sideshow veteran Red Stuart of Philadelphia, PA topped everyone by setting his own personal record and swallowing 25 swords at once -- a 32 inch broadsword along with 24 other swords measuring at least 18 inches long by one half inch in width. SSAI regulations require the blades to be at least 15 inches in length and one half inch in width.
© 2006 sword swallowers association international