Idaho Father and Son Set Water Balloon Throw-and-Catch Record

An Idaho father and his 10-year-old son have turned a fragile water balloon into a record-setting projectile. David Rush and his son, Jeremy, established the Guinness World Record for the farthest distance to throw and catch a water balloon, covering 141.07 feet. They made the attempt on June 3, according to UPI Odd News. The challenge was not simply generating enough distance. The balloon also had to survive the throw and remain intact when Jeremy caught it. Rush said the most difficult part was finding a way to accelerate the balloon without causing it to burst immediately. After multiple attempts, Rush succeeded with a motion he described online as similar to a catapult. He swung his straight arm in a circle, released the balloon at the top of the motion and sent it along an arc toward his son. The technique was intended to build speed while controlling the direction of the balloon’s flight. Jeremy then caught the water balloon at the record distance without it bursting, securing the title for the pair. Rush is described as holding more than 200 concurrent Guinness World Records titles. The water balloon achievement adds an especially delicate event to that collection, requiring precision from both the thrower and the catcher.