Bob Schwartz, an 80-year-old from Florida, has stunned fitness experts and inspired people of all ages after holding a plank for an astonishing 50 minutes — far exceeding the typical recommendation of 20 seconds to two minutes for his age group. Known affectionately as “The Plankster,” Schwartz completed the feat at the Ocean Reef Fitness Club in Key Largo, earning what many believe is a world record for his age bracket.
Luis Bracamonte, the club’s director of fitness and wellness, witnessed the feat firsthand and praised Schwartz as the definition of a “super-ager.” Bracamonte stated, “To our knowledge, after extensive searching, it is the longest plank ever held by an 80-year-old.”
A plank, a core-strengthening isometric exercise, targets the abdomen but also engages the arms, legs, chest, and back. For Schwartz, planking has become more than just a workout—it’s a lifestyle. His journey began in 2016 when Bracamonte offered a free smoothie to anyone who could hold a four-minute plank. Schwartz won, holding it for over ten minutes and igniting a new passion.
Since then, he’s worked his way up to the 50-minute mark. His achievement was filmed and posted online, becoming his self-declared claim to the age-group title after Guinness World Records declined to recognize age-specific planking feats.
“The hardest part is just making the commitment to exercise and sticking with it long enough for it to become a habit,” Schwartz explained. And he’s proven that consistency is the key. Despite not even stepping into a gym until he was 62, Schwartz now walks three miles each morning, strength-trains intensely, and does core exercises regularly—claiming he hasn’t had a single back issue since starting.
It’s not just solo work either. His seven-year-old grandson has joined him in plank challenges, showing that his commitment is now multigenerational. Schwartz also maintains a “healthy-ish” diet—one serving of fruit, two servings of vegetables daily, regular fish, chicken, and minimal sugar or alcohol. His health metrics remain outstanding, with steady blood pressure and no medications.
Schwartz also focuses on maintaining balance, a crucial component for seniors. “Pick up a foot as you stand in a line; move it around as you wait,” he advised, emphasizing that preventing falls is vital as we age.
The legendary planker’s nickname came about in 2017 when he challenged the club manager to a plank contest and won, adopting the “Plankster” persona in the process. Now a local celebrity, Schwartz is focused not on accolades, but on staying strong and agile enough to enjoy life fully.
He admits keeping up gets tougher each year, but his determination hasn’t wavered. “I’m going to try and at least maintain it as best as I can until the end,” he said. “Until they come up with that magic exercise pill, I guess I’ll keep going to the gym.”
For anyone looking to follow in Schwartz’s footsteps, he recommends starting with a trainer to learn proper form and avoid injury. As he shows, age isn’t an excuse—just a number waiting to be defied.
