Crazy shot: Australian breaks world record with 180m basket
Derek Herron nailed the record on his third attempt. Photo: Guinness World Records
Australian Derek Herron has broken the world record for the greatest height to successfully shoot a basketball – dropping it a staggering 180 metres from a dam in Switzerland.
He made the shot on just his third attempt.
Mr Herron and his YouTube crew of Brett Stanford and Scott Gaunson, from ‘How Ridiculous’ Australia, spent years practicing super high shots in a variety of locations.
The ball was dropped from 180.968 metres on September 26 this year at Mauvoisin Dam in Valais.
The record has officially been verified by Guinness.
The trio had already broken the record – three times – before an American team came in with a 162 m drop earlier this year.
Derek Herron told Guinness it was a surreal moment nailing it on the third shot.
“I watched the ball head towards the rim and saw the net move but still had my doubts that it went in until I saw Scott going crazy.”
The team had struggled to find a flat surface at the location to place the hoop, but their efforts to do so eventually paid off.
However in spite of all the video evidence and the feat being published on the Guinness website, many commentators couldn’t believe it – labelling it a fake.
