Rio de Janeiro (ANTARA News/AFP) - A Brazilian woman has elbowed out an elderly American as the oldest person in the world, the Guinness organization said Wednesday.

Maria Gomes Valentim (114) was certified as the world`s oldest person, edging past US woman Besse Cooper, who is 48 days younger, the company said on its website.

Valentim, who has been a widow since 1946 and is confined to a wheelchair, is from Minas Gerais state. She credited a healthy diet with giving her a long life.

Another Brazilian woman, Sebastiana de Lourdes Silva, at a ripe old 116, has records to show she is the world`s oldest woman, though the Guinness Book has not had a request to verify her documents, the company said.

(U.C003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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