Health
Meet the 80-year-old man who held a plank for 50 minutes — and learn how he stays fit
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Fitness experts say people should be able to hold a plank for anywhere from 20 seconds up to two minutes, depending on their age.
An 80-year-old Florida man has blown that goal out of the water, recently holding a plank for a whopping 50 minutes — 100 times longer than the average recommendation for his age.
Bob Schwartz held the plank — which is believed to be a record for his age — at the Ocean Reef Fitness Club in Key Largo.
CAN YOU HOLD A PLANK LONGER THAN OTHERS YOUR AGE? FOX HOSTS TEST THEIR CORE STRENGTH
Luis Bracamonte, director of fitness and wellness at the club, said he witnessed Schwartz’s feat, which earned him the nickname of “The Plankster.”
“To our knowledge, after extensive searching, it is the longest plank ever held by an 80-year-old,” Bracamonte told Fox News Digital. “Mr. Schwartz is an extraordinary individual and a perfect example of a ‘super-ager.’”
Bob Schwartz, 80, recently held a plank for a whopping 50 minutes — 100 times longer than the average recommendation for his age. (Bob Schwartz)
A plank is an isometric move where the person holds a push-up position for a set period of time. It is often touted as an abdominal exercise, serving as an alternative to traditional sit-ups and crunches.
In addition to strengthening stomach muscles, planks also work the arms, legs, chest and back, according to experts.
CRUNCHES BY AGE: HERE’S HOW MANY YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO
Schwartz’s planking journey began when Bracamonte set up a contest in 2016, where any member who could do a four-minute plank would get a free smoothie. Schwartz not only got his smoothie, but he won the contest, planking for just over 10 minutes.
Bob Schwartz is pictured planking while two of the club’s fitness trainers sit on his back. (Bob Schwartz)
“Prior to that, one minute was probably my max, although by this time, my core was in pretty decent shape,” he told Fox News Digital.
As Schwartz continued to extend his planking times, he started researching online and discovered that his times were already longer than the records for his age bracket.
“The over-80 record has been 15:03 since 2019, and the over-70 record was 38 minutes,” he said.
PUSH-UPS BY AGE: HERE’S HOW MANY YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO
Schwartz applied to Guinness World Records, but was told that they don’t recognize records by age group.
“So in this internet age, you just post a video of your accomplishment and claim the title until somebody beats you,” he said. “So during this year’s fitness challenge, we decided to video my plank and post it.”
“The hardest part is just making the commitment to exercise, and staying with it long enough for it to become a habit.”
The passion for planking has become a family affair, as Schwartz’s youngest grandson, who is 7 years old, has started joining him in plank challenges.
Schwartz embraces planking as a convenient way to work virtually every major muscle in the body. “A plank can be done at home, without equipment, and in a short period of time,” he noted.
Sticking with it
Schwartz has not been a lifelong fitness enthusiast — he didn’t set foot in a gym until 2006, when he was 62 years old.
After years of suffering from chronic back pain, he finally discovered the therapeutic effects of exercise.
“Since I’ve been doing core exercises, I have never had a back issue,” he told Fox News Digital.
Schwartz started with a core and cycle class, eventually adding strength training sessions to his regimen. He also walks three miles each morning.
On March 26, 2025, Schwartz is pictured immediately after completing his 50-minute plank. (Bob Schwartz)
“When I strength-train, I push myself as hard as I can,” he said. “Many exercise sets end in muscle fail. I’ve been able to improve my stats every year, but it’s getting much harder now.”
Schwartz said he also adheres to a “healthy-ish” diet, aiming for a minimum of one serving of fruit, two servings of vegetables, fish for at least one meal, and usually chicken (or occasionally pork or beef) for dinner.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
He also tries to minimize sugar and rarely drinks alcohol.
“My blood pressure is the same as it’s always been, and I’m not on any medications,” he said. “I do take several supplements. My weight has not changed more than 10 pounds since I was 18.”
In 2017, at the Ocean Reef Fitness Club, the manager challenged Schwartz to a plank contest. “To intimidate him, I came up with ‘The Plankster’ persona,” Schwartz said. “I beat him and the legend grew.” Here, his “fan club” helps celebrate his victory. (Bob Schwartz)
“The hardest part is just making the commitment to exercise, and staying with it long enough for it to become a habit and part of your lifestyle,” he said.
For those just getting started with planking and fitness in general, Schwartz recommends seeing a trainer to learn the proper form and minimize the chances of injury.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining balance, especially in older age.
“Pick up a foot as you stand in a line; move it around as you wait,” he recommended. “A fall and a trip to the hospital at an advanced age can be devastating.”
Schwartz is pictured with his daughter and 7-year-old grandson, all of whom engaged in a plank challenge. (Bob Schwartz)
Looking ahead, Schwartz said he hopes to continue exercising and maintaining his current fitness level.
“I’m going to try and at least maintain it as best as I can until the end,” he said.
“I enjoy a lot of different activities, but they all require a modicum of strength and agility. So until they come up with that magic exercise pill, I guess I’ll keep going to the gym.”
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27.
In a post on Substack titled “The Day I’ll Never Remember,” she detailed a sudden episode that left her unable to recall the current month, year and president.
“I thought it was 2024. And I believed Joe Biden was president,” she wrote.
ONE WALKING HABIT COULD SIGNAL A HEALTHIER BRAIN AFTER 80, SCIENTISTS SAY
The event occurred while Couric was attending the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, during which she participated in two public panels — one on AI and one on journalism — both of which she cannot remember at all.
“I have no idea what we talked about, or of what occurred when the panels ended,” she said.
Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27. (Getty Images)
John Molner — Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels — also shared his account.
After the event, someone told Molner that Katie wasn’t feeling well. When he reached her, an EMT and a doctor were tending to her. “I could tell something was off,” he wrote. “It could have been altitude sickness, but Katie was definitely not all there.”
WOMAN WITH ADVANCED ALZHEIMER’S REGAINED SPEECH AND MEMORIES AFTER TAKING MAGIC MUSHROOMS
At the hospital, when Couric struggled to recall the year, the president and her grandchildren’s names, doctors began checking for a stroke.
An MRI revealed no signs of stroke, which was a relief, but “Katie’s ‘fog’ became a lot more apparent,” Molner wrote.
John Molner, Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels, also shared his account. (Getty Images)
“She repeatedly asked me the same questions: ‘What was I doing before we got to the hospital?’ ‘Why am I at the hospital?’”
Couric was ultimately diagnosed with transient global amnesia, a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that prevents a person from forming new memories and may also erase some recent memories, according to Mayo Clinic.
“The cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself.”
It is not caused by a stroke, seizure or head injury, and it usually resolves completely within 24 hours.
“[It’s] just a very weird neural episode that’s pretty uncommon and, at least in most cases, is a ‘one and done’ experience,” Molner said.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Couric said she finally began feeling “like herself” again around 9 p.m. and went to sleep at 2 a.m.
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.”
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.” (Getty Images)
Data shows that approximately three to eight people per 100,000 will have an episode of transient global amnesia, with people 50 years of age and older at higher risk.
The specific cause of TGA is not known, but some experts believe it stems from a “temporary dysfunction in the brain’s hippocampus — the area responsible for creating new memories,” Couric shared.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“Doctors believe this is driven by brief interruptions in blood or oxygen flow, or microscopic spasm in the blood vessels.”
Episodes could potentially be triggered by intense physical exertion, emotional distress, extreme temperature changes or migraines, experts say.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Approximately 15% of patients will have a recurrence 10 years later.
“Why did this happen to me? Was the altitude an issue? Was I dehydrated? Tired? Stressed? The literature doesn’t seem to indicate that these are contributing factors, but the cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself,” Couric wrote.
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise. (iStock)
“All I know is that those hours will be forever lost. Someone described it as my brain failing to hit the ‘record button.’”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“While this was a freaky occurrence, it could have been much more serious. So ultimately, I’m relieved — even though several hours of a Saturday in June will always be missing for me.”
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers.
That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years.
Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger.
COMMON VITAMIN MAY INFLUENCE BRAIN AGING IN WAYS SCIENTISTS DIDN’T EXPECT
The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed.
The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16.
Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers. (iStock)
“The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected,” lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. “This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience.”
‘LONGEVITY GENE’ MAY PROTECT THE BRAIN FROM ALZHEIMER’S BY BOOSTING DNA REPAIR, STUDY FINDS
The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers.
In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes,” he said. “Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging.”
As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted.
Super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed. (iStock)
“Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes,” Verghese said.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
This study adds to growing evidence that what’s good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that “staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.”
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment.”
“The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age,” Verghese said. “Walking is an easy step-up point because you don’t need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend.”
Any activity is beneficial if it’s done regularly and with the right intensity, he added.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health.
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment,” Verghese noted.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking. (iStock)
This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions,” Verghese advised. “So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise.” The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace.
“And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important.”
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
-
Technology3 minutes agoGet a $30 credit when you reserve Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy phones
-
World10 minutes agoCritics say Turkey’s verbal attacks on Israel have crossed into antisemitism
-
Politics13 minutes agoWATCH: Dana White drops 2028 hints while raving about his favorite Trump cabinet secretary
-
Health18 minutes agoKatie Couric couldn’t remember the year or the president during frightening brain episode
-
Sports25 minutes agoJustin Verlander announces he will retire after this season: ‘I’ve realized that time has come’
-
Technology28 minutes agoApple AI security update proves hackers move fast
-
Business33 minutes agoFire-damaged Pacific Palisades shopping center sets reopening date
-
Entertainment40 minutes agoRhea Seehorn celebrates her ‘Pluribus’ Emmy nomination as she waits to hear about Carol and the atom bomb
