Azerbaijani-American athlete Vusala Bentley, who lives in the US state of Minnesota, has set a new record for the longest plank exercise performed by a woman.
The athlete achieved the feat by holding the plank position for 5 hours and 3 minutes at a charity event held on October 24 in Mankato, Minnesota. Her performance surpassed the previous women's record in the discipline.
Bentley undertook the challenge not only to achieve a personal sporting milestone but also to raise funds for charity. Her record attempt generated more than $15,000 in donations for a local charitable organisation.
Speaking to local media, Bentley said that her main objective was to support the community and do something beneficial. She stressed that the achievement belonged not only to her but also to everyone who took part in the event and made donations.
"My goal was to do something beneficial for our community. This is not my event, but yours and that of everyone who donated," she said.
Bentley plans to continue her charitable initiatives. Her next goal is to perform the plank exercise for at least one hour in each of the 50 US states, supporting various charitable projects along the way.
It should be noted that the result has not yet been officially recognised by Guinness World Records. The athlete has submitted an application to have her achievement registered, and the verification process is expected to take several months.
Bentley's initiative highlights both sporting perseverance and the values of community solidarity and charity. Her achievement is another example of the accomplishments of Azerbaijanis living abroad and their initiatives benefiting society.
A video showing Vusala Bentley's record attempt has also been shared on social media. It can be viewed at the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pCSaXMR5ZXE