A Hay River man has had his years-long bid for the world’s largest collection of energy drink cans confirmed by Guinness World Records.
Matthew Lakusta’s collection of 1,100 cans now appears on the Guinness World Records website after being assessed earlier this month.
Achieving an entry in the record book is the culmination of two decades of collecting energy drink cans from around the world, though Lakusta said it wasn’t until 2018 that he began contemplating whether a record for this kind of thing existed.
Initially, Guinness World Records didn’t have a title for collections of energy drink cans. After Lakusta first enquired, a category was created – and awarded to someone else with a collection of 1,019 cans.
“I was like, ‘Oh no!’ Did I miss my opportunity?” Lakusta recalled.
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“I did the count, ended up having more, submitted it and got the title.
“I don’t regret doing it. It’s been a lot of work to get it, but it was never about the Guinness World Record.”
He’s prepared to lose the title again some day and isn’t sure whether his collection will continue to grow or not. He has always described himself as “more of a situational collector” who picks up cans while travelling rather than continually adding to the pile.
“That’s a question I’m trying to figure out,” he said of what happens next. “Am I going to keep collecting more or if I’m going to kind-of have it as a side hobby now… I don’t know yet.”
“I have found one new one and I did get it,” he added, describing a can of Reign Sour Gummy Worm that has just arrived.
“So I’m actually at 1,101, if that answers your question.”
