Women's Day 2015: Five inspirational Female Record Breakers

  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.