A Canadian grandmother has defied age, injury, and chronic pain to claim the Guinness World Record for the longest plank held by a woman.
On March 21, 2024, DonnaJean Wilde, 58, from Magrath, Alberta, held an abdominal plank for 4 hours, 30 minutes, and 11 seconds — surpassing the previous record by just over 10 minutes.
The feat took place at her former workplace, Magrath High School, where she once served as vice principal.
“I actually still can’t believe it,” Wilde said afterward. “It feels like a dream.”
Jump to:
From Wrist Injury to World Record
Wilde’s planking journey began 12 years ago after she broke her wrist. Unable to run or lift weights while wearing a cast, she discovered planks as a safe alternative.
“I realized that I could read and do things when I was planking and fell in love with it,” she recalled. That habit grew into a daily practice lasting up to three hours. While preparing for the record attempt, she doubled that — planking up to six hours a day in two three-hour blocks.
Remarkably, Wilde has completed entire movies and even studied for her master’s degree while in the plank position.
Mental and Physical Endurance
Planking for hours demands more than core strength. Guinness World Records outlines strict form requirements: forearms and toes on the ground at all times, body straight, and no resting.
Wilde described the first two hours of her attempt as relatively easy. The real battle began in the final stages.
“The last hour was the most challenging, just to stay focused and keep my form,” she said.
She drew motivation from a crowd of supporters, including her 12 grandchildren. “During the last 30 minutes, I focused on breathing, staying calm, and not shaking.”
Training Through Chronic Pain
Wilde lives with chronic pain and numbness in her hands and arms, which could have been a setback. Her husband, Randy, believes it was the opposite:
“That chronic pain and numbness that she deals with every day has helped her to be able to plank through the pain,” he said.
Even so, the effort left her elbows sore and her quadriceps burning. She attributes her success to perseverance and mental discipline.
A New Benchmark for Women
The previous women’s record, set in 2019 by fellow Canadian Dana Glowacka, stood at 4 hours and 20 minutes. Wilde’s new mark of 4:30:11 now becomes the time to beat.
For comparison, the men’s world record, set in 2023 by Josef Šálek of Czechia, is an astonishing 9 hours, 38 minutes, and 47 seconds.
Advice for Aspiring Record-Breakers
Wilde’s encouragement for others is simple:
“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.”
Her achievement is a reminder that age and adversity don’t have to limit physical capability. With consistent practice, mental focus, and a little creativity, even the most daunting endurance goals can be within reach.
