Most Swords Swallowed at Once

 

WHO - Franz Huber

WHERE - Eggenfelden, Germany

In 2017, Franz Huber broke the world record for the most swords swallowed at one time. Remarkably, he was able to swallow 28 swords at once! Sword swallowing, which started in approximately 2000 BC in India as a form of worship to different gods, has evolved into a form of entertainment. If you’re like me, hearing about sword swallowing makes you wonder how it’s even possible!

How is sword swallowing possible?

Sword swallowing is very dangerous and often takes years of practice with less dangerous objects to be done successfully. Technically speaking, there is no such thing as sword swallowing. Swallowing involves contracting your throat ( or pharynx) muscles and would certainly end tragically if a sharp sword was in your throat. The goal for sword “swallowers” is actually to relax those muscles while to align their esophagus with the sword and straighten their pharynx to make a path for it to go down without hitting the vital organs the sword passes. Tilting one’s head back correctly can open up the body to make this possible. Multiple sword swallowers have said that what is actually the most difficult part of sword swallowing is controlling the gag reflex. Being able to control this is vital for a successful attempt.

While it is possible to learn how to swallow swords, it is still extremely dangerous. Some have died attempting it, and many others have obtained serious injuries like a punctured esophagus or pharynx. Do not attempt to swallow a sword, unless of course you want to become famous.

 
 
 

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