A 61-year-old Canadian grandmother has attracted international attention after completing an extraordinary five-hour plank, surpassing her previous record and demonstrating that age does not necessarily limit physical endurance.
DonnaJean Wilde, a retired teacher and grandmother of 12, completed the remarkable feat at the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah, on October 7, 2026. Her performance lasted five hours, beating the previous female abdominal plank record of four hours, 30 minutes and 11 seconds, which she established in 2024.
The achievement has generated widespread reactions online, with thousands of people praising her determination, discipline and physical strength.
However, Guinness World Records has yet to formally confirm the new mark. The organisation has received an application relating to Wilde’s latest attempt and is expected to review the evidence before recognising it as an official record.
Grandmother Pushes Physical Endurance to New Heights
Wilde’s five-hour performance represents a significant improvement on her previous achievement.
During the attempt at the Huntsman World Senior Games, she maintained the plank position for the entire duration, relying on concentration, endurance and preparation to complete the challenge.
According to reports, her attempt began at 3:03 p.m. local time and ended at 8:03 p.m. Judges rotated throughout the event to monitor the attempt.
Wilde later revealed that she had moments when she considered giving up. However, encouragement from the audience helped her continue through the final stretch.
She explained that she told her husband she was ready to stop, but the crowd’s chants encouraged her to keep going for the remaining minutes.
The experience highlights the physical and mental demands of holding a plank for an extended period. The exercise requires participants to maintain a stable body position while engaging their abdominal muscles, shoulders, legs and other supporting muscles.
For Wilde, completing the challenge required more than physical strength. Staying focused and resisting the urge to stop were equally important parts of her achievement.
How a Wrist Injury Changed Her Fitness Journey
Wilde’s interest in planking began more than a decade ago, following an injury that temporarily prevented her from enjoying some of her usual physical activities.
In 2013, she broke her wrist and had to wear a bulky cast. The injury made activities such as running difficult, forcing her to look for an alternative way to remain active.
She eventually tried planking after encountering the exercise during the period when it was gaining popularity on social media.
What began as a substitute for her usual activities gradually developed into a long-term fitness routine.
Wilde has previously described the experience as a turning point in her life, explaining that she discovered she could continue exercising despite the limitations caused by her injury.
Over time, she became increasingly interested in the exercise and began incorporating it into her daily activities.
Her experience shows how an unexpected setback can sometimes lead people to discover new interests and develop habits that remain part of their lives for years.
Rather than abandoning physical activity while recovering from her injury, Wilde found a different way to keep moving.
Training, Discipline and Family Support
Preparing to hold a plank for five hours required sustained training and a broader fitness programme.
Wilde began preparing seriously for her record attempt in 2023. Her routine included planking alongside activities such as running, weightlifting and push-ups.
These exercises helped her build the strength and endurance required for a challenge lasting several hours.
She also found an unusual way to test her stamina at home. During her preparation for the latest attempt, Wilde reportedly practised planking with her three-year-old granddaughter lying on her back.
Her family has played an important role throughout her record-breaking journey.
During her earlier attempt in 2024, relatives, friends and former students gathered to support her at Magrath High School in Alberta, Canada, where she had previously worked as a teacher.
Her grandchildren have been among her strongest supporters, helping motivate her during some of the most difficult moments of her challenges.
For Wilde, their presence has provided an additional reason to keep going when the physical demands become overwhelming.
The support she receives also demonstrates how family encouragement can contribute to a person’s motivation when pursuing a demanding personal goal.
Another World Record for Push-Ups
Wilde’s latest plank attempt is not her first notable achievement in fitness.
In November 2024, she established another record after completing 1,575 push-ups in one hour, earning recognition for the highest number of push-ups performed by a woman within that period.
The accomplishment demonstrated that her physical abilities extend beyond maintaining a single position for an extended period.
Planking requires sustained muscular endurance, while push-ups involve repeated movements that challenge strength and stamina. Training for both activities has allowed Wilde to pursue different forms of fitness competition.
She has also encouraged people to appreciate the benefits of regular exercise, drawing on her own experience to promote an active lifestyle.
Her achievements have helped bring attention to the possibility of pursuing challenging fitness goals later in life.
Although her accomplishments are exceptional, they also underline the importance of consistent preparation rather than expecting extraordinary results without training.
Social Media Reacts to the Five-Hour Plank
Wilde’s latest performance attracted significant attention online after footage of the attempt circulated on social media.
The video prompted widespread admiration from viewers who were impressed that someone in her early sixties could sustain such a demanding position for five hours.
Some commenters described the feat as inspirational, while others praised her determination and the commitment required to prepare for the challenge.
However, the performance also generated debate about whether her body position met the requirements for an official world record.
Critics questioned her form, arguing that maintaining the correct posture is an essential part of a legitimate plank.
Under Guinness World Records’ stated requirements, a participant’s forearms and toes must remain in contact with the ground while the rest of the body stays elevated and straight.
The organisation’s review of Wilde’s latest attempt will determine whether the performance satisfies the necessary conditions for official recognition.
Until that process is completed, her five-hour effort should be described as a record-breaking attempt rather than a formally confirmed new Guinness World Record.
What Wilde’s Achievement Says About Fitness After 60
Wilde’s accomplishment has renewed conversations about exercise, ageing and the importance of remaining physically active.
While her performance is far beyond what most people would attempt, it illustrates how regular training and commitment can help individuals develop their physical capabilities over time.
Planking is a bodyweight exercise that engages several muscle groups, particularly the abdominal muscles and those responsible for stabilising the spine and pelvis.
However, attempting to maintain the position for hours requires specialised preparation and should not be treated as an ordinary fitness target.
People interested in improving their fitness can begin with shorter, manageable exercises and gradually increase the difficulty according to their abilities.
Those with injuries, existing health concerns or uncertainty about suitable exercises should seek advice from an appropriate healthcare or fitness professional before beginning an intensive routine.
Wilde’s story is therefore less about encouraging everyone to attempt a five-hour plank and more about demonstrating the value of finding an activity that can be sustained over time.
Her journey began with a wrist injury and a simple exercise she could perform while wearing a cast. More than a decade later, she has become known for remarkable feats of endurance.
As the review of her latest record attempt continues, the Canadian grandmother’s achievement has already attracted widespread attention and provided an example of determination, preparation and the role of family support in pursuing ambitious goals.
