World record yo-yo a no go for now

With the urgency of a serious engineering firm, Beth Johnson and her husband, Tony, made final touches to an 18-month-long project. "That's a big yo-yo," Beth Johnson said, while standing back and admiring her work. The yo-yo was more than 7,000 pounds and 12 feet across.

It's an attempt at breaking the world record for largest functioning yo-yo. To count for the record, it would have to be released from at least 75 feet up, bouncing three times, two-thirds of the way back up each time. And after a year-and-a-half of seven-hour work days, and 'round-the-clock touch-ups this week, their smiles and laughter turned to nervous silence as they watched at Jacksonville Crane and Machinery as one of the company's cranes lifted the yo-yo into place.



"Geez, that's high up there," Beth Johnson whispered to herself, moments before it was released. The yo-yo came down slowly, did one rebound of about 3 feet before the rope burned through from the friction. The huge toy came crashing to the ground, splintering at one edge.

There was a thud, some sighs and even a few tears from Johnson. "It didn't do what it was supposed to," she said. At least it's a dream that they can always roll up and try again. And for now she's satisfied that the Guinness Book will recognize her yo-yo as the heaviest ever built; they'll have to wait for that final decision.

With video of the unsuccessful attempt.