In a remarkable feat of strength and determination, a 90-year-old woman from Ohio, USA recently set a new Guinness World Record for the oldest female to hang on a dead hang for nearly 3 minutes.
Ann Crile Esselstyn, a grandmother of 4 children and 10 grandchildren, has always been passionate about sports and fitness throughout her life. She has engaged in and coached 10 different sports and maintained a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise. She also encourages her children and grandchildren to be active, inspiring them to become world-class athletes who have won numerous medals.
In February of this year, she decided to challenge the world record for dead hanging. Even without formal training, she could hang for 1 minute and 15 seconds. After weeks of dedicated training, her arm strength improved significantly, leading to notable progress in her performance.
With a team consisting of timekeepers, photographers, witnesses, lawyers, firefighters, neighbors, coaches, and family and friends, Ann officially attempted the Guinness World Record at her home in Pepper Pike on March 6.
Her initial attempt lasted 2 minutes and 41 seconds, surpassing the previous record set by 81-year-old Californian internet sensation and former Hollywood actress Annie Judis in 2024. However, to avoid disqualification due to excitedly kicking her legs, a keen-eyed witness requested another attempt. After a 30-minute break, Ann successfully completed another round of dead hanging, extending her time to 2 minutes and 52 seconds, officially earning her the Guinness World Record title.
On that day, at the age of 90 years and 231 days, Ann became the oldest female Guinness World Record holder for dead hanging.
Following the challenge, Ann mentioned that her back and arms were in pain, but the joy of breaking her initial record overwhelmed her, momentarily making her forget the discomfort.
Reflecting on her achievement, she commented: “Perhaps if I had known how close I was to the goal, I could have held on a little longer.”
Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to set a world record, she said: “Having concentrated training, support, and expectations at this age is something I never imagined. To ultimately achieve the Guinness World Record title, especially at the age of 90, feels incredibly fortunate!”
Encouraging other seniors to stay active, Ann offered the advice of “Keep moving!” suggesting activities like climbing stairs, weightlifting, stretching, walking, yoga, dancing – emphasizing the importance of staying active to maintain a healthy lifestyle.