81-year-old fitness influencer back in records book for oldest to hold dead hang position
Annie Judis caught the world’s attention last year, when the octogenarian fitness influencer and ex-Hollywood actress became the oldest person to perform an abdominal plank position (female) at the age of 80 years and 244 days.
But for her entire life, Annie has been dedicated to turning her wildest dreams into reality – so when she said last year that she wanted to keep inspiring the fitness community by holding a dead hang record, we knew she’d follow through.
She completed her fourth Guinness World Records title on her 81st birthday last 11 November 2024, officially becoming the oldest person to hold the dead hang position (female).
The dead hang is a simple, yet surprisingly difficult, exercise that has become increasingly popular in fitness communities because of how it engages your core and shoulder muscles, while working out your grip strength.
Dead hangs require the individual to hold on to a bar with both hands and literally hang there while holding up your whole body weight, which is particularly difficult for older people.
“People at my age can’t do one minute,” said Annie. “For my birthday present I decided to try two.”
This record breaker made the attempt at her home gym in Beverly Hills, California, USA. Supported emotionally by her personal trainers, and supported physically by a bar above her staircase, Annie held the dead hang position for two minutes and one second, an inspiring feat for her age.
“She motivates me,” said personal trainer/manager Anthony Gallo, after watching her attempt. “I’m 46, and I can’t do it.”
Annie’s dead hang record title hangs amongst her other laurels, including her title for oldest competitive rope skipper (female) obtained when she was 75 years 92 days old and oldest person to complete a farmer’s walk over 20m (female) when she was 81 years 46 days old.
“I think age is just a number. You’d be surprised what people can do in their 80s now, in their 70s and 60s,” she told Guinness World Records last year. “People are stronger. I feel like I got stronger as I got older. I feel like I have more energy.”
But the mom-of-two has many other accomplishments to her name, such as being a published author of the children’s book The Beverly Hills Jump Rope Queen (based on her competitive rope skipping career), and being a fitness influencer to over 77,100 followers on Instagram.
In her earlier years, she also was a beauty pageant queen, a Playboy cover girl, and a Hollywood actress in films such as Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets, under the screen name Jeannie Bell. And she really made headlines for dating famous actor Richard Burton between his two marriages to Elizabeth Taylor.
So shout out to this incredible woman, and keep an eye out for whatever wonderful moves she makes next!