A remarkable achievement unfolded at the Huntsman World Senior Games in Utah on October 4, as 61-year-old Canadian grandmother DonnaJean Wilde broke the world record for the longest abdominal plank held by a female. She successfully maintained the plank position for an impressive five hours, breaking her own previous record by nearly half an hour.
Wilde’s record-breaking plank began at 3:03 PM and finished at 8:03 PM, with several judges overseeing the event at different times. Her earlier record, set back on March 21, 2004, was four hours, 30 minutes, and 11 seconds, established at the Canadian high school where she had previously served as vice principal.
To achieve a plank record, the rules state that the challenger must keep their forearms and toes on the ground while the rest of their body stays straight. After completing her previous record, Wilde remarked that her elbows were hurting and she was worried about maintaining her form. “I think that’s why my quads hurt because I was just really tense,” she admitted.
She mentioned that the first two hours of the challenge felt relatively easy, but the final two were increasingly difficult. The last hour was the toughest, requiring intense focus to maintain her position. During the last half hour, she concentrated on her breathing and staying calm to prevent shaking.
Wilde started incorporating planking into her routine years ago after suffering a wrist injury. She found that she could still work and read while planking, leading her to enjoy the exercise. She encourages others who want to improve their plank times to practice regularly, suggesting that they combine it with daily activities like reading or working on a computer while on the floor.
As a proud grandmother of 12 grandchildren, Wilde continues to inspire others with her dedication to fitness. Her new record is awaiting review and approval by the Guinness World Records.
