At an age when most people slow down, a 90-year-old woman from Ohio has done the opposite, setting a new Guinness World Record and redefining expectations of strength and fitness in later life.
Ann Crile Esselstyn, a resident of Pepper Pike, achieved the record for the oldest woman to hold a dead hang after suspending her body weight for two minutes and 52 seconds. The feat surpasses the previous record held by 81-year-old Annie Judis of California, who managed two minutes and one second.
Speaking to Guinness World Records, Esselstyn said the achievement was something she had never imagined. “I never ever in 90 years imagined that I would be fortunate enough to have the focused training, support, and desire to actually get a Guinness World Records title, especially at the age of 90,” she said. Reflecting on her life, she added that she had spent years supporting her children and grandchildren in their sporting pursuits rather than seeking recognition herself.
Esselstyn’s background as a lifelong athlete played a significant role in her success. She has played and coached 10 different sports over the years and only intensified her routine recently. Last year, she began a daily fitness regime before breakfast, alternating between riding her Peloton, practising yoga, running, and lifting weights. While she occasionally used a hanging bar to improve posture, the idea of attempting a record came from her son Rip.
The turning point came during a FaceTime call when Rip introduced his “Hanging with Rip” challenge. Esselstyn mentioned she already tried hanging occasionally, prompting him to ask her to demonstrate. She managed one minute and 15 seconds on her first attempt, leaving him, in her words, “flabbergasted”. The following day, after learning about the existing record, he encouraged her to aim higher.
Esselstyn believed the target was achievable. “Because I was able to hang for one minute and 15 seconds without much training, it didn’t sound impossible,” she said. She began focused training in February, guided daily by her son virtually. Over time, she noticed clear physical changes. “Believe it or not, as the month went on, I could feel my hands starting to get stronger. The blisters that hurt so much at first turned to calluses; my back was feeling a little better,” she explained.
The official attempt took place on 6 March at her home, with a large group present to validate the effort. Timers, photographers, witnesses, a lawyer, a firefighter, neighbours, two personal trainers, and all four of her children gathered to watch. Her first attempt reached two minutes and 41 seconds, but it had to be repeated after she kicked her feet, which risked disqualification.
After a 30-minute break, she tried again. The room remained silent as the seconds ticked by. “Everyone was quiet until the two-minute mark. At two minutes and 30 seconds the room exploded with cheering. Then I heard that I had gone longer than my first attempt,” she said.
Despite the physical strain, she pushed through. “My back and arms hurt, but the hurrahs that I had broken the time of my first attempt and came close to three minutes left me in a state of amazement,” she added, noting that the excitement in the room quickly overshadowed the pain.
Her final time of two minutes and 52 seconds secured the record, marking an extraordinary achievement that blends discipline, family support, and lifelong athleticism.
