In an audacious feat that defies conventional notions of age and physical limits, Dorothy Hofner, a 104-year-old woman from Chicago, Illinois, has embarked on a skydiving adventure. The escapade is not merely a personal milestone but an attempt to etch her name into the Guinness World Records as the oldest person to perform a parachute jump.
Dorothy Hoffner made the dangerous leap despite her advanced age-Image Source: The Mercury News
Leaving behind her walking aid, Hofner catapulted herself from a plane over Ottawa, located 140 kilometers southwest of Chicago, last Sunday. Her daring act came just moments after her smooth landing, where she triumphantly declared to the onlookers, “Age is just a number.”
🌎🏆WORLD RECORD🏆🌎 — Dorothy Hoffner became the oldest skydiver ever today.
“Age is just a number,” the 104-year-old said after she jumped at Skydive Chicago Airport. Here’s her epic jump and free fall in slow-mo: pic.twitter.com/194NdxGzSU
— Jake Sheridan (@JakeSheridan_) October 1, 2023
Dorothy Hoffner just broke the world record for oldest skydiver. I flew along with the 104-year-old as she made her legendary leap 🪂https://t.co/b0Vyp85y2n pic.twitter.com/VUpYJ2fPcZ
— AnnMarie (@annmarieW96) October 1, 2023
Interestingly, the current holder of the world record for the oldest skydiver is Sweden’s Linnea Engieghard Larsen, who achieved the feat at 103 years old in May 2022. However, organizers in Illinois are now vigorously seeking validation from the Guinness World Records to recognize Hofner’s jump as a new record-breaker.
Hofner is no stranger to airborne adventures. At the age of 100, she undertook her inaugural skydiving experience, humorously mentioning that she had to be pushed out of the plane on that occasion. Yet, in her recent exploit, she took the initiative herself. Accompanied by a certified instructor from the United States Parachute Association, Hofner chose to initiate the jump from an altitude of 4,100 meters.
Maintaining an aura of calm and confidence, Hofner gracefully descended in a freefall before finally deploying her parachute. It took a total of seven minutes for her to reach the ground, landing peacefully in a designated grassy area.
As she touched down, spectators rushed to congratulate her; one of them even brought her walking aid to her. When questioned about her emotions post-jump, Hofner articulated, “I feel wonderful. The whole thing was exhilarating. It couldn’t have been better.”
Hofner, who is slated to turn 105 this upcoming December, isn’t stopping here. She expressed her desire for her next adventure: a hot air balloon ride, quipping, “I’ve never done that before.”
As Dorothy Hofner continues to defy age stereotypes and break boundaries, her story serves as an inspiring narrative for all, proving that age, indeed, is just a number. But more than that, it emphasizes that with courage and a zest for life, one can rewrite the rulebook at any stage.
