"Louder Than a Jet Taking Off"... Guinness World Record Set with 122.4 dB Shout

Setting a New Guinness World Record with a 122.4 dB Shout
Breaking a World Record After More Than 30 Years

An Australian man has set a Guinness World Record for the loudest human shout, recording a vocalization of 122.4 decibels (dB).

Joseph Magrile-Bateup (58), residing in Canberra, Australia, was listed in the Guinness World Records for the 'loudest shout.' CBS News

According to the Associated Press on the 24th (local time), Joseph MacGrail-Bateup, 58, who resides in Canberra, Australia, was recently recognized by Guinness World Records as the holder of the record for the “loudest shout by an individual.”

He shouted the word "now," reaching 122.4 decibels. This volume is comparable to the noise level of a chainsaw, a jet taking off, or an ambulance siren at close range.

This surpasses the previous record of 121.7 decibels, set in 1994 by Annalisa Flanagan, a schoolteacher from Northern Ireland, who shouted the word "quiet."

MacGrail-Bateup explained that preparing for this record attempt was not something he could achieve through repeated training. He said, "There is actually no way to practice for it," adding, "I had to save my voice for the day of the world record attempt."

He also shared, "It took seven attempts just to shout one word, 'now.' Afterward, my voice was completely gone for several days. My voice became hoarse, and I was in poor condition."

He continued, "That's why it's actually difficult to practice. However, the process of taking on the challenge is very enjoyable."

He began competing in loud shouts in earnest after being appointed the official town crier of Canberra in 2017, a ceremonial position established by the local government.

MacGrail-Bateup announces messages at community events, school festivals, and car shows. In this role, he also joined the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Australian Town Criers, an organization dedicated to preserving the historical and ceremonial roles of Australian town criers.

At the 2024 guild competition, he won by shouting "Oyez, Oyez, Oyez" at 98 decibels, a phrase traditionally used by town criers to call for silence and attention before making announcements.

Prior to his world record attempt, MacGrail-Bateup tested several words before choosing "now."

His shout was measured on May 2 at a radio studio in Canberra, witnessed by professional sound engineers and official observers. The relevant files were submitted to Guinness World Records, and Guinness officially announced the record on the 19th.

This marks the second time MacGrail-Bateup has set a world record. In 2019, he broke the speed record for shooting 10 arrows with a bow, completing the feat in 60.03 seconds, narrowly surpassing a record that had stood since 2015. However, nine months later, a seven-year-old boy broke his record by 11.4 seconds.

MacGrail-Bateup said he is not particularly interested in reclaiming the archery record or holding on to this latest record for a long time. "If someone beats me, that’s a wonderful thing, too," he said, adding, "Records exist to be broken."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.