A 61-year-old woman from Canada recently broke her own Guinness World Record by holding a plank position for an impressive 5 hours, surpassing her previous record set over two years ago. Planking, also known as the plank exercise, involves holding a position similar to a push-up with the abdomen facing the ground, supported by the forearms and toes for an extended period of time.
According to the Guinness World Records website, the woman, named DonnaJean Wilde, had been a teacher at elementary and middle schools for many years. Around a decade ago, due to a wrist fracture from a fall, she couldn’t engage in activities like running or weight training while wearing a cast. She discovered she could do planks and eventually made it a habit, doing them for 2 to 3 hours daily.
On March 21, 2024, she set the Guinness World Record for the longest time holding the plank position for women in Alberta, Canada, with a time of 4 hours 30 minutes 11 seconds. This record applies to maintaining a plank position facing down, but variations like side planks or back planks also exist.
Recently, on October 6 this year, during the opening ceremony of the Huntsman World Senior Games in Utah, USA, Wilde broke her own record by holding the plank position for a full 5 hours. Her new achievement is awaiting official recognition from the Guinness World Records.
According to KSL TV, the executive director of the games, Kyle Case, mentioned that Wilde had informed them six months prior about her goal to surpass her own record at the event. The decision to schedule this challenge during the opening ceremony led to a remarkable and unbelievable performance, with the audience’s cheers and vibrant atmosphere enhancing the experience.
Case stated, “The energy in the crowd, the atmosphere, and everybody cheering her on was just amazing.” He believes that Wilde’s achievement epitomizes the core essence of the Huntsman World Senior Games.
A video capturing the moment when Wilde hit the 5-hour mark has been shared on social media, garnering over 4 million views. Case highlighted that this demonstrates how age doesn’t always have to be a limiting factor.
He emphasized, “Society might say age holds us back, but that’s not the case. We can do things we love, are passionate about, and that benefit ourselves and those around us. We don’t have to slow down.”
The Huntsman World Senior Games welcome athletes aged 50 or above to participate and are open to the general public for viewing. The current edition of the games takes place from October 5 to October 17.
Previously, experts in the UK have mentioned that activities like planking and wall sits are among the best exercises for lowering blood pressure and promoting heart health. These exercises offer various benefits and contribute to overall wellbeing.