A teenager realized that it never Quick That’s when he decided to embark on a record-breaking trip around Europe to make his dreams come true.
Rio Matsuoka (USA) became the world’s Youngest person to visit every country in Europe At the age of 18 years 101 days.
Rio, a resident of California, started this effort on his 18th birthday.
“It was a real coincidence that I decided to attempt this world record,” explains Rio. “I was telling my family I wanted to travel to Europe after I graduated high school and while doing some research, I remembered someone had broken the world record Youngest person to visit every country in the world,
“I realized I could do something similar with Europe and knew I had the opportunity.”
Rio loves having new experiences, meeting new people and experiencing the unique culture of each country.
Their journey began in cold and beautiful Iceland and ended in sunny, warm Malta. He traveled most of Western Europe by train and most of Eastern Europe by bus, and only flew to a few countries such as Russia and the UK.
He traveled alone during the entire journey, which he himself had planned. However, he made a lot of friends along the way who he hopes to see again soon!
His record-breaking journey was not without challenges: “(The biggest challenges I faced were) probably all the complications that came from geopolitical issues (…) and the global pandemic.”
One of her favorite moments of the trip was hiking around the cliff monasteries in northern Moldova with the dog.
“Northern Moldova is famous for its Mongolian battle fields and monasteries that are carved into the rocks. While I was up there, one of the dogs from the village where I was staying decided to tag along with me on my hike.
“Together we went hiking for 4 hours and explored caves. It was such an amazing time, I almost wish it would never end.
“I think it was also very therapeutic for me, because I needed some time away from the big cities and I missed my dog ​​at home.”
When we asked Rio if there is one country that stands out in her eyes, the answer was surprising.
“If I had to choose one, it would be Sark. You can argue that it is part of the UK, but the UN list still includes it (as a country).
“Cerque is a small island between England and France, in a group of islands called the Channel Islands, with a population of about 300 people. Cars are not allowed here so people get around the island by tractor or bike.
“The nature is beautiful and the island is famous for its night sky. The people are very friendly and it really feels like one big welcoming community!
“It was such a relaxing and unique experience, unlike the big cities I was traveling in Europe. It’s an introvert’s absolute dream.
Now 18, Ryo feels the journey has helped him mature and know himself better.
“I learned a lot about myself and what I enjoy doing, as well as became more aware of the real world. (…) I think the biggest achievement for me was to be able to see difficult situations as opportunities and adapt to them.
The young record breaker urges everyone to immerse themselves in different cultures and try to understand the unique experiences and lives of people in different parts of the world.
After finishing school, Ryo decided to have a gap year and has been volunteering in Ukraine well before his record attempt.
“I wanted to help the people of Ukraine as much as possible, so I decided to come back after completing my record. I currently work for several non-profits.
In the end, he reveals that he is saving money and trying to break more records in the near future.
want more? Follow us on our social media channels to stay up-to-date with all things Guinness World Records! You can find us on Facebook, TwitterInstagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Snapchat Discover—including our new Guinness World Records Extreme channel.
Don’t forget, we’re on YouTube too!
Still wasn’t enough? Follow the link here to buy our latest book, which is full of stories from our amazing record breakers.