March 28, 2013

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Guinness World Records holder will perform during the Best Illusion of the Year Contest

By Susana Martinez-Conde

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This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

Thomas Blacke, magician, escape artist, and Guinness World Records holder, will perform during the vote counting at the 9th Annual Best Illusion of the Year Contest on May 13, 2013, in Naples, Florida.

 

Thomas Blacke

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Blacke holds 11 world records, including the Guinness World Record for the Fastest Handcuff Escape Blindfolded and the Guinness World Record for the Fastest Escape from Handcuffs Underwater.

According to the Guinness World Records:

“The fastest handcuff escape blindfolded is 3.45 seconds, achieved by Thomas Blacke (USA), in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, USA, on 10 April 2012. Police handcuffs were used for the attempt and one of the witnesses was a retired police detective.

The fastest time to escape from a pair of handcuffs while underwater was 3.425 sec, achieved by Thomas Blacke (USA), at the Ambassador Inn swimming pool in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, USA, on 25 October 2011. In accordance with the guidelines for this record Blacke was handcuffed using a set of police issue handcuffs.”

We hope to see you in Naples!

 

Susana Martinez-Conde is a professor of ophthalmology, neurology, and physiology and pharmacology at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, N.Y. She is author of the Prisma Prize–winning Sleights of Mind, along with Stephen Macknik and Sandra Blakeslee, and of Champions of Illusion, along with Stephen Macknik.

More by Susana Martinez-Conde

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