French Man’s Dream of Building Tallest Matchstick Eiffel Tower Shattered by Guinness World Records
In a tale of determination and disappointment, Richard Plaud, a French man, saw his dream of building the tallest matchstick sculpture come crashing down due to a technicality imposed by the Guinness World Records. Plaud had dedicated eight years of his life to crafting a stunning 23.6-foot model of the Eiffel Tower using an astonishing 706,900 matchsticks and over 50 pounds of glue. However, his efforts were in vain as Guinness deemed that he had used the wrong type of matchsticks, disqualifying him from breaking the existing record.
Plaud, a council worker for a local authority, expressed his frustration on Facebook, stating, “The Guinness Book judges have delivered their verdict, without actually seeing my turn. BIG DISILLUSION, DISAPPOINTMENT AND INCOMPREHENSION. Tell me that the 706,900 rods stuck one by one are not matches!!?? And they are too cut to the point of being unrecognizable!!??”
The current record holder for the tallest matchstick Eiffel Tower is Toufic Daher from Lebanon, who constructed a tower standing at 21.4 feet tall in 2009 using a staggering 6 million matches. Plaud’s replica surpassed Daher’s creation by nearly two feet, making the disqualification even more disheartening.
However, there may be a glimmer of hope for Plaud. Mark McKinley, the director of Guinness’ central records services, acknowledged that the judges may have been too hasty in dismissing Plaud’s structure. McKinley stated, “It’s the job of our records management team to be thorough and fastidious in reviewing evidence to make sure the playing field is level for everyone attempting a Guinness World Records title, however it does appear we might have been a little heavy-handed with this application. We will make contact with the record holder again as well as review rules for similar records as a priority, to see what can be done.”
Plaud’s tower still stands tall, a testament to his unwavering determination. Since December 2015, he has meticulously worked on his masterpiece, placing and gluing each matchstick with precision and care. Plaud revealed that having a world record was a childhood dream of his, and he was determined to surpass the 2009 record set by Daher. Despite the setback, Plaud remains hopeful that Guinness will reconsider their decision.
The journey to create the matchstick Eiffel Tower was not without its challenges. Plaud initially purchased his matches from a local supermarket and painstakingly cut off the sulfur heads of each one. However, this process proved to be frustrating and time-consuming. Eventually, he struck a deal with a manufacturer and received 33-pound boxes of headless matches, making his task more manageable. Unfortunately, these matches were not commercially available to the general public, leading to the dispute with Guinness.
Plaud’s labor of love finally reached completion on December 27, 2023, a significant date as it marked the 100th anniversary of Gustave Eiffel’s death. Eiffel, a renowned French civil engineer, was the mastermind behind the iconic Parisian landmark that bears his name.
As the review of Plaud’s tower continues, the world waits in anticipation. Will Guinness recognize his extraordinary achievement? Only time will tell. In the meantime, Plaud’s unwavering spirit and dedication serve as an inspiration to dreamers and builders alike.
