Grandmother, 61, Shatters Own World Record with Five-Hour Plank

A 61-year-old grandmother from Canada has once again demonstrated extraordinary physical endurance by holding an abdominal plank for a remarkable five hours, setting a new world record. DonnaJean Wilde, a mother of five and grandmother of 12, achieved this feat at the World Senior Games in Utah, surpassing her previous record.

Wilde’s latest accomplishment saw her hold the plank for five hours, surpassing her own previous world mark of four hours, 30 minutes, and 11 seconds, which she had set in 2024. For context, holding a standard plank for even one minute can be challenging for many individuals.

The retired school teacher discovered her aptitude for planking in 2013 after sustaining a broken arm. Unable to engage in traditional cardio exercises while her arm was in a cast, she turned to core strengthening. The activity evolved from a recovery method into a passion after her children challenged each other to a family plank-off.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, her family encouraged her to test the limits of her planking ability, and she was able to hold the pose for two hours without apparent strain. In 2023, Wilde began dedicated training for world records, incorporating numerous daily push-ups, weight training, running, and dead hangs, alongside extensive planking practice.

Wilde also holds another world record, set in 2024, for the most push-ups completed in one hour, with an astonishing 1575 repetitions. Her recent record-breaking plank performance has garnered significant online attention, with many praising her as an inspiration and a "legend."

Looking ahead, Wilde has expressed her ambition to attempt a new record by performing at least 1600 push-ups in an hour, aiming to break her existing push-up record.