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Student from Coram Deo Academy in Kennewick, Washington, surpassed the previous record by more than ten minutes and is already aiming for the next record, for ages 10 to 12, currently at 76 minutes and 8 seconds
A boy of just 9 years old became the new world record holder for children in planking after dedicating himself alone for six months to surpass his own limits. According to a report by Ellie Conover, published on July 7, 2026, Jack Sims, from Kennewick, Washington (USA), held the position — supported on elbows and toes — for 61 minutes and 5 seconds on June 16, surpassing the previous mark of 50 minutes and 5 seconds.
How it all began: from physical education class to daily training
Jack’s journey began unassumingly during a physical education class when he participated in a planking competition and won by holding the position for just 6 minutes.
That, according to Jack himself, was the trigger: from there, he decided to start training planking on his own, gradually increasing the time until completing a full hour. The boy is a student at the private school Coram Deo Academy.
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Over six months of training, Jack made significant performance leaps every few days — going from 11 minutes one day to 25 minutes a few days later. The boy’s parents highlight his competitive and dedicated spirit as the main fuel behind his progress.
According to his father, Marc Sims, the boy has been competitive since birth, and the planking challenge became just another way to channel that energy. When Jack first said he wanted to break the record, his father challenged him to surpass it first — and he couldn’t resist.
“I lasted two minutes, and he beat me easily,” recounted Marc Sims, recalling the moment he accepted his own son’s challenge.
Behind the scenes of the record: playlist, Powerade, and total focus
Described by his father as tenacious, Jack never needed external motivation to train. He dedicated himself to planking independently, practicing periodically throughout the week without any pressure from his parents.
Jack is the oldest of three siblings, and the younger siblings cheered for him during much of the one-hour challenge on record day — until they lost interest. To stay focused during the effort, the boy relied on a special playlist, named “Jack’s planking pump-up jams,” created with the help of his mother.
He also kept a bottle of Powerade nearby to stay hydrated but avoided any snacks during the challenge. According to the report, he even tried to watch a TV show to distract himself but noticed his posture starting to slip — so he refocused solely on the playlist.
At the end of the attempt, Jack recorded himself holding the plank and sent the video to the Kid’s World Records organization, responsible for officially verifying the achievement.
What’s Next for Jack Sims
Jack’s record will be published in the Kid’s World Record Book 2027, and the boy will receive a medal and a certificate from Kid’s World Records in recognition of his achievement. Other children’s records publicized by the organization include the tallest Lego tower, the longest hopscotch sequence made with chalk, and the most pizza spins in 60 seconds.
Jack turns 10 in December — a date that will mark the beginning of a new goal: breaking the plank record for the next age group, 10 to 12 years old, currently set at 76 minutes and 8 seconds.
The boy’s competitive spirit also shows in other activities, such as soccer and basketball. During training, his friends themselves helped challenge him: one of them managed to hold the plank for 30 minutes, which became a new personal goal for Jack — who soon after doubled that mark and claims he doesn’t intend to stop there.
For the father, seeing his son pursue a goal without needing any external guidance is a source of genuine pride — a feeling that, according to him, leaves the whole family very satisfied with the boy’s journey.
