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The Unbelievable Truth: Who Holds The World Record For The Longest Fart (2 Minutes And 42 Seconds!)

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As of December 20, 2025, the world record for the longest continuous fart remains one of the most hotly debated and elusive titles in the history of Guinness World Records. While the organization officially recognizes a record for the "Longest career as a flatulist," the duration record itself is often subject to conflicting claims. The most widely cited and historically accepted record belongs to a man who allegedly sustained a single blast of flatulence for an astonishing 2 minutes and 42 seconds, cementing his place in the annals of bizarre human achievements. This article dives deep into the history, the science, and the personalities behind this gaseous phenomenon. We will explore the legendary record holder, the modern-day professional "fartists," and the physiological secrets that allow these masters of the anal diaphragm to perform their unique, long-lasting toots.

The Masters of Flatus: Biography of the Flatulists

The history of controlled flatulence as a performance art is surprisingly rich, featuring figures who turned a natural bodily function into a theatrical spectacle. The pursuit of the longest fart record is inextricably linked to these three masters of the art.

Bernard Clemmens: The Duration Legend

  • Record Claimed: Longest Fart Duration
  • Duration: 2 minutes and 42 seconds
  • Location: London, UK
  • Status: Widely cited as the Guinness World Record holder in numerous secondary sources and older record books, though the record is not prominently featured on the official GWR website today.
  • Legacy: Clemmens's time of 162 seconds is the benchmark for the ultimate test of sustained flatulence control.

Paul Oldfield (Mr. Methane): The Modern Flatulist

  • Born: 1966 (Approximate)
  • Origin: Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK
  • Stage Name: Mr. Methane
  • Official Guinness Record: Longest career as a flatulist (male)
  • Career Start: December 1990
  • Longest Fart Attempt: 59 seconds (mentioned on GWR site as an attempt)
  • Method: Discovered his ability to fart on command at age 15 while practicing yoga. He performs as a "fart-powered 'superhero'" in a green costume.
  • Notable Appearances: Performed on numerous television shows, including a recent appearance on *Channel Hopping with Jon Richardson* in October 2020.

Joseph Pujol (Le Pétomane): The Historical Pioneer

  • Born: June 1, 1857
  • Died: August 8, 1945
  • Origin: Marseille, France
  • Stage Name: Le Pétomane (meaning "The Fartomaniac" or "Gas Maniac")
  • Career Span: 1887 until the outbreak of World War I in 1914 (a career of 27 years)
  • Venue: Famous performer at the Moulin Rouge in Paris during the late 19th century.
  • Method: Pujol had the unique physiological ability to inhale air into his rectum without conscious effort and expel it at will, allowing him to play songs and imitate sound effects with his anal diaphragm.

The Record: 2 Minutes and 42 Seconds of Uninterrupted Flatus

The record of 2 minutes and 42 seconds (162 seconds) is an almost unbelievable feat of sustained physiological control. Attributed to Bernard Clemmens of London, this record has been cited for decades as the benchmark for flatulence duration. The record’s enduring presence in pop culture and older record books, despite its current ambiguous status on the official Guinness website, speaks to its legendary nature. The challenge of a duration record is not simply to pass gas, but to maintain a continuous, audible stream of *flatus* without interruption. This requires an incredible mastery of the anal sphincter muscles and the anal diaphragm, controlling the release of gas from the large intestine (colon). Contrast this with the modern claims. Mr. Methane, a professional whose career is officially recognized by Guinness, has attempted a 59-second fart. Other, less-verified claims suggest a 40-second blast. The vast difference between 59 seconds and 2 minutes and 42 seconds highlights the extraordinary nature of Clemmens's alleged achievement. It suggests a unique physiological advantage—much like Le Pétomane—or a highly specialized technique to draw out the intestinal gas flow over a prolonged period.

The Science of a Super-Long Fart: Physiology and Diet

Achieving a world-record fart is not just about muscle control; it’s a delicate interplay of physiology, diet, and intestinal gas production. To sustain a fart for over two minutes requires a massive volume of gas and the ability to release it at a controlled, low-pressure rate.

The Gas Composition: Why Farts Last

Flatulence is a normal physiological process, the result of colon bacteria metabolizing substances in our diet that the small intestine cannot fully digest. The average human passes gas between 13 to 21 times a day. The composition of flatus is primarily odorless gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and sometimes methane. The foul odor is caused by trace amounts of sulfur-containing compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide (the rotten egg smell) and methanethiol. * Volume is Key: To sustain a continuous stream for 2 minutes and 42 seconds, an enormous volume of gas must be stored in the digestive system. The average volume of a single fart is about 100ml, meaning a record-breaking attempt would likely require several liters of accumulated gas. * The Role of Hydrogen: The flammable nature of some farts is due to the presence of hydrogen gas, which is produced when certain carbohydrates are broken down by gut flora. A high volume of hydrogen is essential for a long-duration fart.

The Diet of a Flatulist

Professional flatulists and record-seekers often manipulate their diet to maximize gas production. The goal is to ingest foods that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine, thus providing a feast for the microbiome in the colon. * High-Fiber Foods: Switching to a high-fiber diet can dramatically increase gas production. Foods rich in complex carbohydrates that are difficult to break down are ideal. * Lactose and Intolerances: For individuals with lactose intolerance, dairy products can be a major source of gas. Similarly, other food intolerances and allergies can lead to excessive gas buildup. * The Bean Factor: Legumes, such as beans, are notorious for causing flatulence due to their high content of oligosaccharides—sugars that are not easily digested by human enzymes but are readily consumed by colon bacteria.

The Technique: Mastering the Anal Diaphragm

The core secret to the longest fart record lies in controlled flatulence. This is what separates the average person from a professional flatulist. Unlike Le Pétomane, who could suck air into his rectum, most people's flatulence is the result of internal gas pressure. The challenge is to release this pressure at a rate just fast enough to be audible, but slow enough to be sustained for minutes. This requires a highly developed and sensitive control over the external anal sphincter, a ring of voluntary muscle that controls the expulsion of flatus. * Low-Pressure Release: A loud fart is a high-pressure, rapid release. A long fart is a low-pressure, slow, and steady hiss. The flatulist must maintain a constant, minimal opening of the sphincter to allow the gas to escape continuously. * Body Position: Positioning the body, often by leaning or sitting in a specific way, can help minimize the friction and obstruction of the gas flow, allowing for a smoother, longer release. The record set by Bernard Clemmens at 2 minutes and 42 seconds, whether officially recognized today or not, remains the gold standard of this bizarre and fascinating human endeavor. It is a testament to the extremes of human physiological control, fueled by a unique diet and a dedication to mastering the most comedic of bodily functions.
The Unbelievable Truth: Who Holds the World Record for the Longest Fart (2 Minutes and 42 Seconds!)
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