75 Year-Old Planks for 4.5 Hours, Shatters World Record

Canadian Grandmother Sets Guinness World Record for Planking

DonnaJean Wilde, a 59-year-old Alberta resident has made headlines for her remarkable planking skills. Not only does she incorporate planking into everyday activities like reading and checking her phone, she’s also set a new Guinness World Record for holding the longest abdominal plank among women.

For those unfamiliar, planking is an exercise that strengthens core muscles. It involves maintaining a push-up-like position, resting on the forearms. While many struggle to hold the position for even a few seconds or minutes, Wilde has mastered the art, holding her plank for an astonishing 4 1⁄2 hours.

How Wilde Got Into Planking

Wilde’s interest in planking ignited around ten years ago when her children began participating in planking challenges. Despite suffering a wrist injury, Wilde tried planking and found she was quite good at it. She incorporated planking into her daily routine and was encouraged by her family to apply for a Guinness World Record.

Training for the Record Attempt

Preparing for her record-breaking attempt, Wilde trained intensively for about a year. She managed to fit five to six hours of planking into her daily routine, along with cross-training activities like running, skipping, lifting weights, and more. She also read motivational books about athletes and their mental preparation for competitions. Upon applying for the record, Guinness sent her guidelines that resulted in a few adjustments to her workout routine.

Achieving Her Goal Surrounded by Loved Ones

On the day she broke the record, Wilde was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, former colleagues, and students at her former workplace, Magrath High School. She selected the school theatre as the venue for her challenge due to its public accessibility. She found the support from the audience, especially her former students, very encouraging and fun.

Passion for Sports and Fitness

Wilde, a mother of five and grandmother of twelve, shared that she comes from an active family and has always had a passion for sports and running. She coached high school volleyball and emphasized fitness and health in her family. She describes the feeling of breaking the record as “unbelievable” and sees it as an opportunity to inspire her students to persist in their interests and seize opportunities.

Article by Saleen Martin, a reporter from USA TODAY’s NOW team. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her atsdmartin@usatoday.com