Copyright © 2001 NLThomas
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Brian Jackson blows up the first of the four water bottles, during his world record breaking performance at the Cherokee National Holiday.

TAHLEQUAH, OK - Cheered on by hundreds of his fellow tribal members, including Principal Chief Chad Smith, Brian Jackson set a new world record by blowing up four water bottles in 7 minutes, 28 seconds during festivities at the Cherokee National Holiday.

Jackson had the water bottles inspected before his attempt, then set about inflating them with his lungs. Water bottles inflate to more than 170 pounds of pressure per square inch before they explode.

"That's more pressure than two semi-truck tires", Jackson said. "That kind of pressure can collapse a lung easily if you’re not careful."

Jackson took more than 2:30 to blow up the first hot water bottle. Then, with Smith waving the exploded bottles and leading the cheers, Jackson burst three more in the next five minutes. No strongman had previously ever blown up more than two in a row.

"The people at the Guinness Book of World Records say that no one has ever done three and that four is unheard of," Jackson said.

Jackson, who works for the Cherokee Nation, gives motivational presentations to student groups. In addition to blowing up water bottles, Jackson breaks bricks, boards and bends steel rods.

"People look at me and see that I’m small", Jackson said. "They are used to seeing huge guys doing these things. The message I give to kids is that it doesn’t matter how big you are or where you are from. You can do anything you set your mind to."

Jackson has issued a world-wide challenge to other strongmen to try to break his record because he is confident that he can do better himself.

"I want someone to break it, so I can come back and do even better", Jackson said. "My original goal was to see how many I could do in ten minutes. When I got to four and knew that I had broken the record, I stopped. But I'm going to go for five soon."

Jackson's motivational program is called "I Believe." Jackson is available for speaking engagements and can be reached by phone, 918-458-9291 and by email: justbelieve_2000@yahoo.com.