At the age of 88 years 33 days, retired naval carrier pilot Bud Jardine, from Nova Scotia, Canada, has become the world’s oldest person to perform a headstand.
Bud, who also served as a member of the 33rd Canadian Parliament before retiring, says he’s been entertaining his grandchildren for years by doing headstands.
He has incorporated the pose into his yoga routine and aims to “keep it going years hence”.
To achieve this record, the challenger must perform a headstand for a minimum of 15 seconds. In addition to their head, they are permitted to keep their hands or forearms flat on the floor, while their legs must be raised vertically in a straight line with their body.
Bud has practised various meditative and fitness routines throughout his life, but he only regularly began doing headstands in his seventies.
In addition to yoga and headstands, Bud does many other forms of exercise to stay fit, such as walking, stretching, lifting light weights, and playing golf.
“Fitness has always been a part of my life,” he said.
The record title for the oldest man to perform a headstand is a hotly contested one, and two men in Canada have been vying for the title 👀 pic.twitter.com/t7aBdGjKLG
— #GWR2024 OUT NOW (@GWR) October 12, 2023
And Bud is not the only Canadian retiree vying for this record - he took the title just two weeks after it was achieved by 87-year-old James Szakos, who lives in British Columbia, almost 6,000 km away from Bud.
Coincidentally, Bud and James each mentioned in their record applications that they performed a headstand on a paddleboard when they were 80, which proves that no matter how niche your hobby is, there’s always at least one other person out there who shares it!
James is a retired autoworker, and just like Bud, he exercises every day to maintain his fitness and flexibility. “Staying active is so important when you get older,” he said.
Although only one of them can hold the world record, both Bud and James have achieved a more important goal – inspiring their families to keep fit.
James’s 16-year-old grandson has vowed to break the record when he’s 90, and Bud’s grandchildren are already copying his yoga routine.
“It has been fun watching the grandchildren as they have grown older to continue to attempt the same yoga practise,” Bud said. “I am delighted that they have opted to follow in my footsteps.”
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