JK Rowling - Highest annual earnings for a children's author
Born
Joanne Murray in Yate on the outskirts of Bristol, UK in 1965, JK
Rowling’s Harry Potter books have kept a generation of children
spellbound and spawned hugely successful box office film spin offs
making her a multi-millionaire. Amongst her biggest achievements, Rowling holds the record for the fastest selling book in history.
Johanna Quaas – Oldest gymnast
Born on the 20th of November 1925, Johanna Quaas is a retired a PE teacher from Leipzig, Germany.
Despite
being 89 years of age, she remains a regular competitor in the amateur
gymnastics competition Landes-Seniorenspiele, staged in Saxony,
Germany.
Remarkably she only began to train at
gymnastics in her 50s taking part in her first competition at the age of
56. Johanna has always been involved in sport dating her interest in
keeping fit back to a childhood.
Because of her responsibilities as a mother and wife, she wasn't able to dedicate herself to gymnastics until later.
In
April 2012, she performed a floor-and-beam routine on the set of 'Lo
Show dei Record' in Rome, Italy, where her record was certified. Joanna
has a strict exercise regime that involves a combination of running and
yoga.
Juliana Buhring – fastest circumnavigation by bicycle
In December 2012, Juliana Buhring set a new world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world on a bicycle by a female.
Starting
and finishing at Piazza Plebescito in Naples, Italy, Juliana’s amazing
feat took 152 days and one hour and saw her cycle a gruelling distance
of 29,070 km (18,063.22 miles).
What makes Juliana’s achievement
perhaps even more incredible is the fact that prior to deciding to
attempt the record, the 32-year-old had never ridden a bike before.
Under
the rules of the record a rider must travel the same distance as the
circumference of the Earth – 24,900 miles – in one direction, starting
and finishing in the same place. Travel by sea and air is allowed, but
at least 18,000 miles of the route must be cycled.
After eight
months worth of training and preparation under the supervision of an
Italian sports scientist, Juliana set out on her epic ride which covered
Italy, France, Spain Portugal, USA, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand,
Malaysia, Singapore, India, Turkey, Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia,
Croatia and Slovenia.
As well as fighting off sickness in India,
wild dogs in Turkey and even some angry birds in Australia, Juliana’s
bike, which she named Pegasus, suffered 29 flat tires, six broken
spokes, and also required four full tire changes and three chain
replacements during the trek.
Liu Yang - First female taikonaut
Liu Yang, a 35-year-old air force pilot, became China's first female taikonaut (astronaut) back in 2012.
Liu
made the record books as part of a crew of three on board the Shenzhou 9
spacecraft. As part of the crew Liu’s mission saw her live and work for
several days on an has orbiting module as part of preparations for
crewing a permanent space station.
A native of Henan province,
the mother of one joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force in 1997
and qualified as a pilot before becoming the deputy head of a flight
unit, holding the PLAAF rank of major. Liu underwent two years of
astronaut training and was one of two female candidates who had been
chosen to prepare for the mission.
Malala Yousafzai - Youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner
Aged just 17 years, 2 months and 23 days, Pakistani
schoolgirl campaigner Malala Yousafzai became the youngest ever Nobel
Peace Prize winner last year after being recognised for her work
promoting the right for girls to have an education.
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