Jonathan, believed to be the world’s oldest living land animal, is recognised alongside Everest climber Hari Budha Magar and record-breaking chef Hilda Baci.
The world’s oldest living land animal, a double amputee who conquered the world’s highest peaks and a Nigerian chef whose marathon cooking feat inspired a continent have been named among the latest Guinness World Records ICONS.
Guinness World Records (GWR), the global authority on record-breaking achievement, has unveiled its latest ICONS, a select group of record holders whose achievements have transcended their own fields to inspire people around the world.
Among those recognised is Jonathan, the world’s oldest living land animal.
Believed to have been born around 1832, the Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa) is now an extraordinary 194 years old. With an average life expectancy of around 150 years for his species, Jonathan’s age is considered a conservative estimate, meaning he may in fact be even older.
Known affectionately as “Jono”, he has lived on the South Atlantic island of St Helena since arriving from the Seychelles in 1882. During his remarkable lifetime, he has witnessed some of the most significant events in modern history.
Nigel Phillips, Governor of St Helena, said: “Jonathan the tortoise is a beloved resident of St Helena. He has met royalty, starred in wedding photographs, and delighted tourists. But for Saints, he is a symbol of the enduring resilience of this island and its commitment to protecting the environment. It is entirely appropriate that he has as his home the paddock of the Governor’s Residence. He is very much the brightest icon of this jewel in the South Atlantic.”
Also recognised is Hari Budha Magar MBE, the Nepalese double amputee living in the UK who became the first double above-knee amputee to climb the Seven Summits.
Hari suffered life-changing injuries in 2010 while serving with the British Army in Afghanistan after stepping on an improvised explosive device, losing both legs above the knee.
His recovery began with simple but significant goals, including learning to lift himself from the floor into his wheelchair. As his confidence and determination grew, he turned his attention to a childhood ambition: climbing Mount Everest. Having achieved that goal, he went on to complete the Seven Summits challenge.
Hari said: “I’m incredibly honoured to receive this GWR ICON recognition. For me, this is bigger than climbing mountains, it is a chance to help make people more aware of disability and what people can achieve.”
Another recipient is Nigerian chef Hilda Baci, whose record-breaking cooking marathon captured international attention in 2023.
Her attempt to achieve the longest cooking marathon lasted an astonishing 93 hours and 11 minutes, generating huge interest on social media and inspiring thousands of others in Nigeria to pursue Guinness World Records titles of their own in the months that followed.
Guinness World Records said the impact of her achievement extended far beyond Nigeria, influencing record-breaking attempts across Africa and helping to create a lasting legacy of participation and ambition.
In 2025, Hilda secured a second record by creating the largest serving of jollof rice, weighing 8,780kg (19,356lb 9oz).
She said: “Being named a Guinness World Records ICON means so much more to me than holding a title. It represents resilience, passion, discipline, and the power of dreaming boldly.
“What started as a personal challenge became something that inspired millions of people around the world, and that is incredibly humbling. I’m deeply grateful to Guinness World Records for recognising not just the achievement, but the impact and journey behind it.”
The 2026 ICONS list also includes a number of globally recognised figures from sport, entertainment and science.
Among them are John Cena, who holds the record for the most WWE Championship titles with 17; Shohei Ohtani, recognised for achieving Major League Baseball’s first 50/50 season; former NASA astronaut Christina Koch, who completed the longest spaceflight by a woman at 328 days, 13 hours, 58 minutes and 12 seconds; and South Korean pop phenomenon BLACKPINK, the most-streamed female group on Spotify with more than 16.9 billion streams.
Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief of Guinness World Records, said: “We’re proud to call these extraordinary individuals GWR ICONS. Here are record holders who’ve transcended their records to become part of global culture. It’s not always about celebrating that single superlative moment… with the ICONS, it’s about recognising and honouring the long-lasting impact these inspirational people leave on the world.”
Guinness World Records says ICONS are individuals whose achievements have gone beyond the record books to become part of wider culture and public consciousness.
Previous ICONS have included polar explorer Preet Chandi, double-amputee triathlete Billy Monger, Taylor Swift and record holders Rumeysa Gelgi and Jyoti Amge.
The new ICONS feature in Guinness World Records 2027, published on 10 September.
Image credit: Guinness World Records
