A 61-year-old just held a plank for five hours and broke her own world record

A Canadian woman has been credited with a new world record after holding a plank for five hours at the World Senior Games in Utah. DonnaJean Wilde, 61, crossed the five-hour mark during the event, beating the standard she had already set herself.

Wilde completed the feat on Tuesday at the Utah Tech M Anthony Burns Arena in St. George, Utah. Footage from the event showed her passing the five-hour point, which officially gave her the title of longest female abdominal plank holder in the world.

The result also meant she had improved on her own previous mark. According to Guinness World Records, Wilde had already set the record in 2024 with a time of four hours and 30 minutes. By reaching five hours, she pushed that number even higher.

What makes the attempt stand out is how long officials had to stay focused on a single performance. A spokesperson for the World Senior Games said judges worked in hour-long shifts and rotated several times while Wilde was still holding the position.

How the record unfolded

The plank began at 3:03 p.m. Mountain time and the record-breaking moment came at about 8:03 p.m., according to the spokesperson. That meant the officials overseeing the attempt changed over multiple times before Wilde crossed the line that put her into the record books again.

Wilde was credited with the new mark at the World Senior Games, turning an already remarkable record into an even bigger one by surpassing the five-hour barrier.

What a plank is for

A plank is an isometric exercise, which means your muscles work without much visible movement. In the standard forearm plank, you support your body in a straight line on your forearms and toes while resisting sagging at the hips or lifting the backside too high.

People use planks to build core endurance, not just abdominal strength. The exercise also challenges the shoulders, chest, back, glutes and legs. That matters because the core helps transfer force through the body during everyday tasks like lifting, carrying, climbing stairs and staying steady during sport or exercise.

How to do one properly

Start on the floor with elbows under shoulders, forearms parallel or hands clasped. Step the feet back and keep the body long from head to heels. Gently tighten the stomach, squeeze the glutes and keep the neck neutral by looking down.

A good plank should feel solid, not painful. Stop if you feel sharp pain in the lower back, shoulders or wrists. It is usually better to hold a clean position for a shorter time than to chase a longer hold with poor form. Breathing matters too. Try slow, steady breaths instead of bracing so hard that you hold your breath.

How to build up safely

Beginners can start with a high plank using the hands, a plank from the knees, or short holds with rest in between. As control improves, build time gradually rather than making a huge jump. Quality and consistency usually matter more than heroic single efforts.

If standard planks feel easy, adding side planks, shoulder taps or controlled leg lifts can increase difficulty without turning it into an endurance contest. If you have shoulder, back or blood pressure concerns, or are returning after injury, it is sensible to check with a qualified health professional before pushing harder.