Olympia stands 122 feet and 1 inch tall in Bethel in 2008. At the time, it held the Guinness World Records as the tallest in the world. That record was broken recently by Riesi, who stands almost 125 feet in Austria, according to msn.com. Bethel Chamber of Commerce photo
BETHEL — The record set here in 2008 for the world’s tallest snowman has been broken by Riesi, a nearly 125-foot structure in Austria, according to msn.com.
Riesi surpassed Olympia, which towered over the town at 122 feet, 1 inch and entered the Guinness World Records 12 years ago. Named for Republican U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe of Auburn, it was 11 stories tall with wreaths as eyes, skis for eyelashes, trees for arms and 5-foot tires as buttons. Its 13 million pounds of snow melted by July 30.
Olympia surpassed Angus, King of the Mountain, also built in Bethel in 1999. Named after then-Gov. Angus King, the snowman held the Guinness World Records title at 113 feet, 7 inches, or 10 stories tall. His complete meltdown of 8 million pounds of snow came June 10.
King went from the governor’s chair to eventually being elected to Snowe’s senate seat as an independent in 2012.
According to msn.com, the duo who built Riesi hope the snowman will still be standing this summer.
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