Chayne Hultgren, nicknamed the Space Cowboy, has set a new Guinness World Record in Sydney today by swallowing 18 swords at the same time.

The 31-year-old beat his own previous record of 17 swords, which he set in 2008. But for all those wannabe sword swallowers out there, Mr. Hultgren warned the stunt has taken years to perfect.

"It's amazing," Mr. Hultgren said. "I've been preparing for this since I was 16. It is definitely one of my greatest achievements so far."

Hultgren began practicing the art of sword swallowing at the age of 16 when he swallowed his first hose. A few years later he upped the ante and began using stainless steel blades.

He swears his latest feat is not dangerous, but the cheeky entertainer conceded that "it wasn't recommended by my doctor.''

"It's an educated risk,'' he said. "I don't just straight away grab 18 blades and shove them down my throat -- you've got to practice a lot and build up to it.

Apparently he is the only person in the world to down more than 13 blades simultaneously. Perhaps he should stop breaking his own world records, then?