on 10 february 2004, capovilla surpassed australian christina cock to become the oldest person ever from the southern hemisphere. capovilla was named the world's oldest person by guinness world records on 9 december 2005, thus superseding both hendrikje van andel-schipper of the netherlands thought to be the world's oldest person from 29 may 2004 to 30 august 2005, when she died, and elizabeth bolden of the united states, thought to be the world's oldest person from 30 august 2005 to 9 december 2005.