Romania has a new name in the Guinness Book of World Records, and it belongs to a 13-year-old boy: Ianis Alexandru Scutaru, a student at the Petru Rareș National College in Piatra-Neamț. The young speed telegraphy phenomenon has not only become the fastest telegraph operator in the world, but also the first Romanian to enter Romania in the Guinness World Records for this sport. Ianis recently joined the 2025 edition of the "100 Youngsters for Romania's Development" campaign, initiated by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania – a project that supports exceptional young people in putting their talent to work for the progress of the country.
At an age when most teenagers are just beginning to explore their passions, Ianis Scutaru has managed to conquer the world with a historic performance in speed telegraphy—a niche sport that involves reproducing Morse code in real time.
This year, in June 2025, Ianis participated alongside the Romanian delegation at the International Radio Amateurs Fair in Friedrichshafen, Germany, which attracted over 11,000 visitors from 50 countries. Ianis impressed the audience by decoding a signal in just 110 milliseconds, setting an absolute world record.
He was the only competitor in the record-breaking event and accepted the challenge in a very special setting: on stage in front of an audience, rather than in a soundproof room, as required by the classic competition format. The result? A speed of 231 words per minute, 395,191 points, and 1,160 characters per minute, setting a new benchmark for excellence in his sport.
His achievements are not the result of chance, but the fruit of five years of hard training, during which Ianis has shown a discipline and perseverance that are rare for his age. Beyond Morse code, the young man is enjoying his childhood: he plays basketball twice a week, is passionate about music, and loves spending his vacations in the countryside with his grandparents.
By joining the "100 Youngsters for Romania's Development" campaign, Ianis becomes part of a generation of future leaders – young people who not only dream, but also take action for a better Romania. The Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania aims to provide them with the support they need to realize their potential, and Ianis's case is clear proof that excellence is not a matter of age, but of will, passion, and courage.
