9-Year-Old Holds Plank for 61 Minutes, Breaks World Record

Jack Sims doesn't back down from a challenge, even when it means battling gravity for more than an hour. The nine-year-old from Kennewick, Washington, just broke the Kids World Record by holding a plank position for 1 hour, 1 minute and 5 seconds.

The grueling exercise requires holding your body straight while balancing on forearms and toes. The previous record for kids aged 6 to 9 was 50 minutes and 5 seconds, which Jack shattered by more than 11 minutes.

Jack's journey started in PE class at Coram Deo Academy during a friendly competition. When he beat his classmates by holding a plank for six minutes, something clicked.

"This made me want to keep practicing," Jack told the Tri-City Herald. He started training independently, adding time each day through sheer willpower and consistency.

His progress came in surprising leaps. One day, Jack jumped from an 11-minute personal best to 25 minutes in a single session.

To power through six months of training, Jack created a custom playlist called "Jack's Planking Pump-Up Jams." He also kept Powerade nearby for hydration during his grueling practice sessions.

His father Marc wasn't surprised by the achievement. "Ever since he was born, Jack has been competitive and tenacious, and he just loves a challenge," he told KXLY Channel 4 News.

Jack filmed his entire record attempt with a time clock visible and submitted it to Kids World Records. The organization reviews every application to ensure safety and fairness, dividing competitions by age and gender for kids 4 to 16.

"Once I had broken it, I felt kind of like relieved and just happy that I had broken it," Jack said after completing his historic plank.

Why This Inspires

Jack's story shows what happens when kids discover their own motivation. No coach pushed him to practice daily or create workout playlists. He found something he was good at and decided to see how far he could go.

His achievement will appear in the 2027 printed edition of the Kids World Records Book and on their official website. He'll also receive a commemorative medal and certificate recognizing his accomplishment.

Jack turns 10 in December, and he's already planning his next challenge. The record for his new age group stands at 1 hour and 16 minutes, just 15 minutes beyond what he's already proven he can do.