A 104-year-old woman from Chicago is certified as the oldest person to ever skydive and made Guinness world record. She made a tandem jump Sunday and landed 13,500 feet (4,100 meters) later at a northern Illinois airport. Dorothy Hoffner has achieved the remarkable achievement of becoming the world’s oldest parachutist. This historic moment was captured in the city on Sunday as she touched the ground at Skydive Chicago Airport in Ottawa, about 85 miles (140 kilometres) southwest of Chicago.
Dorothy Hoffner was determined to make her next jump unique following her inaugural skydiving experience at the age of 100 in her hometown. As reported the old lady was determined to set a world record with her next leap. She left her walker behind just short of the Skyvan plane at the Ottawa airport and was helped up the steps to join the others waiting inside to skydive.
“Let’s go, let’s go, Geronimo!” the old lady said after she was finally seated.
When Hoffner first skydived at the age of 100 she had had to be pushed out of the plane. But this time she insisted on leading the jump according to a U.S. Parachute Association-certified instructor. The 104-year-old lady was calm and confident when the aircraft was aloft and its aft door opened to reveal tan crop fields far below. Hoffner shuffled toward the edge and leapt into the air without hesitating and being afraid.
The skydive lasted for seven minutes, and the plane beat the old lady to the ground after her parachute opened for a slow descent. The wind pushed Dorothy as she clung to the harness draped over her narrow shoulders, picked up her legs as the ground neared and plopped onto a grassy area at the airport. The photographs captured her gracefully taking a bow following a flawless landing at the age of 104. After making a safe landing, Hoffner addressed the crowd and shared how she was feeling “Wonderful. But it was wonderful up there, too,” she said.
She added, “The whole thing was delightful, wonderful. Couldn’t have been better if we thought of it ourselves.”
Dorothy also hopes to ride a hot air balloon. “I’ve never been on one,” reasoned the 104-year-old.
When she was asked how it felt to hold the world record, unofficial for now, she replied, “Like I’m old. Age is only a number, you know,” she said. Currently, Hoffner does not hold the official Guinness World record. However, Skydive Chicago is collaborating with Guinness World Records to officially certify Hoffner’s historic jump at the age of 104, being the oldest person to do skydiving.
