20 Shortest Records in History That Still Counted
People have pushed limits to become the strongest, fastest, or most accomplished in their fields throughout history. Many records take a great deal of time and work, but some are incredibly short but just as valid. These short-lived successes show that big effect doesn’t always take time to achieve.
Here is a list of 20 incredibly short records that managed to earn a spot in history despite their brevity.
Shortest Reign of a Pope
Pope Urban VII holds the record for the shortest papal reign in history, lasting just 13 days in September 1590. After being elected on September 15, he fell ill with malaria and died before his coronation ceremony could take place.
Despite his brief papacy, Urban VII left a mark by implementing the first public smoking ban in churches.
Fastest Goal in Soccer
In 2009, Nawaf Al-Abed of Saudi Arabia reportedly scored a goal just 2.4 seconds after kickoff in a match between Al-Hilal and Al Shoalah. The player noticed the goalkeeper was off his line and immediately launched the ball from the center circle into the net.
Though some dispute its official status, this lightning-fast goal remains a benchmark for quick scoring.
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Shortest Hollywood Marriage
In 2011, reality TV star Kim Kardashian and NBA player Kris Humphries ended their marriage after just 72 days. Their lavish wedding cost approximately $10 million, breaking down to about $138,000 per day of matrimony.
The brief union became a prime example of celebrity whirlwind romances that flame out quickly.
Briefest Musical Performance
In 2019, the experimental band Napalm Death performed a song called ‘You Suffer’ that lasted precisely 1.316 seconds during a concert in Manchester. Recognized by the Guinness World Records as the shortest recorded song ever, it still contained lyrics, a riff, and a blast beat.
The band created this micro-composition to push the boundaries of what could be considered a complete musical work.
Shortest Commercial Flight
The scheduled flight between Westray and Papa Westray in Scotland’s Orkney Islands takes just 1.7 minutes in calm conditions. Covering a distance of only 1.7 miles, this Loganair service has operated since 1967.
Despite its brief duration, the flight serves as a vital transport link for the remote island communities.
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Fastest Knockout in Boxing
In 1991, boxer James Mince knocked out opponent Daniel Jimenez in a professional fight that lasted only 4 seconds. After the opening bell, Mince delivered a single right hand that immediately ended the contest.
This lightning-fast knockout occurred before many spectators had even settled into their seats.
Shortest Active Volcano Eruption
In 1977, the Nyiragongo volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo erupted for just 30 minutes, yet the consequences were devastating. The extremely fluid lava traveled at speeds of up to 60 mph, quickly overrunning villages and causing numerous fatalities.
This brief but deadly eruption demonstrated how even short natural events can have catastrophic impacts.
Shortest-Serving US President
William Henry Harrison served as President of the United States for only 31 days in 1841, the shortest presidency in American history. After delivering the longest inaugural address ever (nearly two hours in cold, wet weather), Harrison developed pneumonia and died a month later.
His brief administration had no time to implement any significant policies.
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Quickest Patent Application Approval
In 1972, inventor Daniel Kottke received a patent approval just 3 days after submission for a simple paper clip variation. This unusually swift approval occurred due to a clerical error that accidentally prioritized his application.
While most patents take years to process, this administrative mistake created what remains the fastest patent approval on record.
Shortest NBA Career
In 2002, basketball player JamesOn Curry played just 3.9 seconds for the Los Angeles Clippers before being subbed out, never to play in the NBA again. Despite years of training and being a second-round draft pick, Curry’s entire major league basketball career consisted of less time than it takes to read this paragraph.
He never attempted a shot or recorded any statistics.
Briefest Space Walk
In 1966, astronaut Buzz Aldrin conducted an experimental stand-up spacewalk lasting just 2 minutes and 12 seconds during the Gemini 12 mission. While extremely short, this brief exposure to space allowed NASA to test new procedures for extra-vehicular activities.
The successful mini-spacewalk provided crucial data for future Apollo missions.
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Fastest Military Victory
In 1896, the Anglo-Zanzibar War lasted approximately 38 minutes, making it the shortest recorded war in history. When the British ultimatum regarding succession of the sultanate was rejected, British warships opened fire on the palace, quickly forcing Zanzibar’s surrender.
Despite its brevity, the conflict resulted in roughly 500 Zanzibari casualties.
Shortest-Lived Country
After declaring independence from Czechoslovakia in 1939, Carpathian Ukraine was occupied by Hungary less than twenty-four hours later. The nation established armed forces, a government, and a constitution during its brief existence.
The shortest-lived acknowledged independent state in contemporary history is still this micronation.
Briefest #1 Hit Song
In 1964, Louis Armstrong’s ‘Hello, Dolly!’ spent just one week at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 before being displaced by The Beatles, who had dominated the charts for months. Armstrong, at age 63, briefly interrupted the British Invasion with this quick-charting hit.
His achievement made him the oldest artist to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 at that time.
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Fastest Solved Math Problem
In 1999, mathematician George Dantzig solved what was thought to be an unsolvable statistics problem in 20 minutes, believing it to be homework. His professor had written two famous unsolved problems on the board, which Dantzig mistook for an assignment.
His accidental achievement demonstrated that sometimes preconceived notions of difficulty can be the greatest obstacle to solutions.
Shortest Commercial Book
In 1965, author Ernest Vincent Wright published Gadsby, a 50,000-word novel written entirely without using the letter ‘e.’ The book sold out its initial printing in just three hours, making it one of the fastest-selling limited editions in publishing history.
This linguistic experiment, called a lipogram, became an immediate collector’s item due to its unusual constraint.
Quickest Olympic Medal Ceremony
In a single ceremony that lasted four minutes and sixteen seconds, American Jim Thorpe won the gold medals in both the pentathlon and the decathlon at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. Due of scheduling restrictions during the closing ceremonies, this talk was abnormally short.
Thorpe’s dual victory made him one of the best athletes in Olympic history despite the short recognition.
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Shortest-Running Broadway Show
In 1995, the musical ‘Carrie’ closed after just five official performances, making it one of the shortest-running Broadway shows ever. Based on the Stephen King novel, the production cost $8 million (approximately $1.6 million per performance).
Despite its brief run, the show developed a cult following and is now studied as an example of ambitious theatrical risk-taking.
Briefest Feature Film
‘Empire,’ an experimental film by Andy Warhol, was first shown in 1964. It was an 8-hour, 5-minute static image of the Empire State Building. Warhol also made a 22-second version, which was formally shown as a full feature film, even though the full version is quite long.
Even though this extremely condensed version only included a portion of the original, it was nonetheless eligible for theatrical distribution.
Fastest Scientific Breakthrough
In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in a span of about 3 minutes when he noticed that mold had contaminated his bacterial cultures and created a bacteria-free zone. This momentary observation, made while cleaning his laboratory, led to the development of antibiotics that have saved countless lives.
Fleming’s brief moment of insight revolutionized modern medicine.
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The Impact of Fleeting Moments
These twenty records remind us that significance cannot be quantified according to duration. Throughout history, brief instants have brought momentous change, brief performances have left lasting memories, and ephemeral events have altered the human course.
Such instances demonstrate how even the slightest events can come to be invested with historical interest when they portend something abnormal or occur exactly at the time.
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