Canadian Grandmother Shatters Guinness World Record For Longest Plank

April 19, 2024

Today's good news story comes from Alberta, Canada.

DonnaJean Wilde, a grandmother and retired educator, has set a new Guinness World Record for the longest female abdominal plank.

grandma breaks plank world record
DonnaJean Wilde / Guinness World Records

With an impressive display of strength and determination, DonnaJean held a plank for an astonishing 4 hours, 30 minutes, and 11 seconds, surpassing the previous record set by Dana Glowacka in 2019.

DonnaJean's journey to this remarkable achievement began 12 years ago when she faced a setback due to a broken wrist, preventing her from running or weight training with a cast. In search of an alternative fitness routine, she discovered planking and quickly incorporated it into her daily regimen.

Practicing planks for 2-3 hours every day, DonnaJean's stamina and endurance gradually increased over time. Her dedication and perseverance paid off when she shattered the previous record with an extraordinary plank duration. Reflecting on the grueling challenge, DonnaJean admitted, “The last hour was the most challenging, just to stay focused and keep my form."

Drawing inspiration from her 12 grandchildren, who were present to witness her incredible feat, as well as the enthusiastic support from a large audience of school students, DonnaJean expressed her overwhelming emotions upon achieving this milestone.

"I actually still can’t believe it," DonnaJean said. "It feels like a dream."