For most people, hanging from a pull-up bar for nearly three minutes would be a serious test of strength. For Ann Crile Esselstyn, it became a defining moment – at 90 years old.
What looks like a simple feat on paper was anything but. On 6 March, at 90 years and 231 days old, Ann officially etched her name into the record books by holding a dead hang for two minutes and 52 seconds, surpassing the previous mark set by 81-year-old Annie Judis, per Guinness World Records.
But this wasn’t a sudden burst of late-life ambition. It was the culmination of decades spent living and breathing sport.
Ann had always been athletic, long before opportunities for women in sport were widely available. Across her life, she played and coached 10 different sports, building a culture of movement and competition within her family. That legacy is clear – her children and grandchildren have gone on to achieve gold medals and state championships of their own.
Yet, despite a lifetime spent cheering from the sidelines, this moment was different.
“It was new for me to be going for a record, and to be celebrated in this way, since I have spent my life cheering for our four children and 10 grandchildren in their varied athletic events and achievements,” Ann said.
“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!”
The journey began earlier this year, sparked by family encouragement. After committing to a 40-day fitness challenge involving her Peloton bike, Ann built a routine that quickly became second nature.
“And I LOVE my breakfast,” she added.
Alongside cycling, she experimented with yoga, running, weights, and occasionally hanging from a bar. That casual habit soon turned serious after a conversation with her son, Rip.
“I commented, ‘Oh, I do that sometimes,’” said Ann. “He asked me to go to the pull-up bar and hang for as long as I could. We were on FaceTime.
“I positioned the phone so he could watch, and hung for one minute and 15 seconds. Rip was flabbergasted!”
From there, things escalated quickly. Inspired by the existing world record, Rip encouraged her to go for it.
“Because I was able to hang for one minute and 15 seconds without much training, it didn’t sound impossible,” she said.
Daily calls turned into daily training sessions. Progress came steadily, even through the pain.
“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 callouses; my back was feeling a little better,” she said.
“That morning, I hung for two minutes and 20 seconds. Not only beating Rip – who wins in everything – but also informally getting the Guinness World Records title. I was pumped!”
When record day arrived, it became a full family affair. Her home filled with supporters—timers, witnesses, trainers, and loved ones—all there to watch history unfold.
Her first attempt hit two minutes and 41 seconds but had to be ruled out due to a slight movement. Then came the moment that mattered.
“Time seemed to stop,” she said. “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.
“My hands were just beginning to slip. I threw my head back, looked at the ceiling and squeezed. I could feel my face flushing. Slowly, my hands slipped off the bar, and my feet were on the floor.”
The result? A world record—and a moment she’ll never forget.
“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 – and the pain in my back melted away with the joyful excitement around the room,” she added. “Maybe if I had known I was so close, I might have held on just a little longer. Another day!”
Even now, the work hasn’t stopped.
“Not long after my record, I woke up at 4:00AM and realised I hadn’t hung that day. I went downstairs in the dark in my pyjamas to hang,” said Ann. “It felt right.”
Her message to others is simple—and hard to ignore.
“Take the stairs, lift weights, stretch, walk, do yoga, dance, and always just MOVE!” she said.
“And maybe best of all, if you challenge yourself and stick with something for 40 days – as I did with the Peloton and the dead hang – the power of the universe really is with you.”
Featured image credit: Sport Manual (Created with AI to help illustrate this story)
