DonnaJean Wilde Breaks Own World Plank Record
The 61-year-old Canadian athlete maintained a plank for five hours on October 6, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Running
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DonnaJean Wilde, a 61-year-old retired high school vice-principal, established a new world record by planking for five hours on October 6, 2026. This performance marks a significant improvement over her previous record of four hours, 30 minutes and 11 seconds set in 2024.
Why it matters
Wilde demonstrates exceptional physical endurance despite managing chronic pain and numbness caused by transverse myelitis. Her feat highlights the potential for sustained activity to manage health challenges while maintaining rigorous goals.
Wilde, who is 61, surpassed her 2024 world record by nearly 30 minutes during her five-hour effort. This achievement follows 15 years of daily practice that began after a wrist injury.
The players
DonnaJean Wilde
She is a 61-year-old retired high school vice-principal who manages transverse myelitis.
The details
Wilde maintains a habit of planking for hours while multitasking, having even completed a master's degree while in the position. She often reads, texts, or completes schoolwork while holding the plank to manage the routine.
Timeline
Wilde started her daily planking habit in 2011.
Wilde achieved her previous world record in 2024.
Wilde planked for five hours on October 6, 2026.
Season Trajectory
Wilde's performance shifts the competitive landscape of endurance athletics by raising the bar for the sport's record. This milestone cements her standing as a dominant figure in age-group endurance fitness.
Wilde's ability to maintain her form while multitasking offers a practical blueprint for integrating high-intensity training into a sedentary workday. Her journey serves as a concrete example of managing chronic physical limitations through consistent, low-impact habit formation.
The takeaway
Wilde proves that long-term consistency is a powerful tool for overcoming significant health obstacles like transverse myelitis. Readers can look to incorporate small, daily habit changes rather than pursuing immediate, dramatic results.
Further reading
For more on endurance achievements, visit the Running section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mothership.SG - News from Singapore, Asia and around the world.
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