Let’s be honest – most family traditions involve passing down recipes or sharing the same eye color.
But for the Schlenkers of Syracuse, New York, their claim to fame is literally tongue-twisting: they’re the holders of not one, but TWO Guinness World Records for the world’s widest tongues.

When Byron Schlenker took his 14-year-old daughter Emily to the library for a school project, he had no idea they were about to become world record holders.
While flipping through the Guinness Book of World Records, Byron, 47, made a jaw-dropping discovery – his tongue measured a whopping 3.4 inches across (that’s 8.6 centimeters for you metric fans).

Just how wide is that?
Picture this: Byron’s tongue is literally the same width as your average beer coaster and about 0.8 inches wider than an iPhone 6. Let that sink in for a moment.

Like Father, Like Daughter
But the story doesn’t end there. Emily, who initially wanted “nothing to do with it,” decided to measure her own tongue – and the results were equally impressive.

At 2.9 inches (7.3 centimeters), she now holds the record for the widest female tongue in the world. Talk about keeping it in the family!
Since claiming his title, Byron has become something of a local celebrity in Syracuse, proving that sometimes the most unexpected things can make you famous.

Keeping It Clean
Of course, with great tongue width comes great responsibility – and occasional awkward moments.

Byron’s wife Vicki mentions that friends often make jokes about their love life, but this wholesome family of five (including three young ladies) keeps things PG-rated.
“We try to keep it clean,” Vicki explains with a laugh.
“We just kind of laugh it off.”

And really, what else can you do when your family holds the world record for the widest tongues?
While the Schlenkers’ record-breaking tongues might seem like a random genetic quirk, it’s worth noting that tongue width can vary significantly among humans.
The average adult human tongue is typically between 2 to 2.4 inches wide, making the Schlenkers’ tongues truly exceptional.
Byron’s discovery almost didn’t happen – it was only by chance that he spotted the previous record while helping with his daughter’s homework.
His tongue turned out to be nearly 0.4 inches wider than the previous record holder’s, proving that sometimes the most remarkable things about ourselves are the ones we least expect.

What started as a routine trip to the library has transformed into an extraordinary family legacy.
The Schlenkers have appeared in numerous media outlets, been featured in the Guinness World Records book, and become local celebrities – all because they decided to measure their tongues one day.