Short shrieks, high-pitched yelps, and drawn-out wails rang out in Thailand at an international competition aimed at setting a new record for the loudest scream. Russian Sergey Savelyev chimed in at 116.8 decibels, roughly as loud as an ambulance siren, to win Saturday's competition in the seaside town of Pattaya. His effort fell short of breaking the 129-decibel Guinness World Record for the loudest scream set in 2000 in London. “I was only getting warmed up,” said 33-year-old Savelyev, who said he'll be back next year to compete in the competition hosted by Thailand's Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum. The Russian, who walked away with a check for 30,000 baht (US$900), was one of 11 finalists from a field of 1,500 competitors. Various strategies for revving up the vocal cords had contestants twisting their bodies and even throwing themselves on the ground.
