Grandmother Holds Plank for 4.5 Hours by 'Breathing, Staying Calm and Not Shaking' — and Sets World Record

DonnaJean Wilde, 58, set the Guinness World Record for holding the longest plank for a female with 4 hours, 30 minutes and 11 seconds

A 58-year-old mother of five and grandmother of 12 just broke the world record for the longest plank.

On March 27, DonnaJean Wilde — from Alberta, Canada — set the new record for holding the longest plank for a female with 4 hours, 30 minutes and 11 seconds, Guinness World Records announced.

To successfully achieve the record, the challenger’s forearms and toes must touch the ground at all times. The remainder of the body must be lifted off the ground and be kept straight throughout.

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According to Guinness, Wilde’s planking journey began 12 years ago when she broke her wrist and found that the exercise was one she could perform in her daily routine with a cast on.

“I realized that I could read and do things when I was planking and fell in love with it,” she recalled.

In order to prepare for the record-breaking plank, Wilde reportedly held a plank for five to six hours every day, split in two- to three-hour blocks. She was surrounded by her loved ones during the event and told Guinness that during the last 30 minutes, she focused on “breathing, staying calm, and not shaking.”

“The last hour was the most challenging, just to stay focused and keep my form,” she admitted.

Related: Former U.S. Marine, 62, Sets Guinness World Record for Planking Longer Than 8 Hours

Wilde said it’s “overwhelming” to have set the new world record after planking for so many years.

“I actually still can’t believe it. It feels like a dream,” she said before offering advice to anyone else who has the same goal. “Keep trying and keep practicing. When you have to read or work on your computer, just get on the floor and do it on the floor.”

For men, the benchmark for the longest plank was set by 53-year-old Josef Šálek from Czechia in May 2023, according to Guinness, with an unshakable time of 9 hours, 38 minutes and 47 seconds.

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