Obsession is a key trait that true Pokémon lovers have to exhibit. The UK’s Lisa Courtney does that quite well with her massive memorabilia collection.
The votes are in and it looks like the new world record holder for collecting a bunch of Pokémon stuff is Lisa Courtney from Hertfordshire, UK. The 21-year-old Pokémon trainer has ammased 12,113 pieces of memorabilia over 13 years to snatch the top slot in the just released Guinness Book of World Records 2010 Gamers Edition.
Of being put in the book, Lisa says: “To hold a world record for something you feel so passionate about is just an indescribable feeling.” Passionate she is, because to acquire so much junk Lisa traveled across the land, searching far and wide, for new Pokémon to add to her collection. She told Pokémon World UK that her Moby Dick is a life-size Tyranitar plush that she can’t get shipped to the UK. She feels to eventually get her hands on the plush toy is her destiny.
Lisa started her collection because she was bullied. “When I was upset I could just switch on a Pokémon game and it would take me away from everything.” Her real test was to make it through those tough times, and to train her Pokémon collection was her cause. She continues: “I’m now far happier in my life, but still, if I get upset, I can look at my Pokémon collection and it lifts me.”
Today, Lisa has become the very best, like no one ever was, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. She may own even more Pokémon crap than she was given the record for, as she states that she’s got over 13,000 pieces now. It was tough at times for her family, with her collection taking up the entire family house, but courage has pulled them through.
The real story here is not a bunch of Pokémon song references interjected into a dubious news post, but the voracious competition that appears to go on behind the scenes in the Pokémon collection world. From my research, last year’s record holder was Belle Starenchak of the United States, seen here dressed as a Pikachu. She seems to have thought she would be the record holder for a long time, but Lisa came along and snatched the title for 2010. Will Belle Starenchak be able to take back the throne next year, or will Lisa Courtney’s unhealthy obsession keep her on top of the mound? We’ll have to wait and see, friends.
Yeah, I looked far too deep into this.
(Some quotes via Pokemon World UK)
Published: Jan 21, 2010 10:35 pm