At the remarkable age of 104, Dorothy Hoffner from Chicago embarked on a truly extraordinary adventure, trading her walker for a harness and parachute. Her daring mission was to secure her place in history as the oldest person in the world to ever take on the exhilarating challenge of skydiving.
On a sunny Sunday, high above the picturesque landscape of Skydive Chicago Airport in Ottawa, Illinois, Hoffner took her courageous leap from an altitude of 13,500 feet. This astonishing feat achieved by Hoffner not only defied her age but also shook the existing world record held by another remarkable centenarian, 103-year-old Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson of Sweden, who had set the previous record in May 2022.
Dorothy Hoffner says her skydive was an amazing experience
Hoffner’s incredible journey into the world of skydiving didn’t begin at the age of 104, it actually started when she was 100 years old. Four years after her initial venture into this exhilarating adventure, assisted by the skilled tandem jumper Derek Baxter and cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd of supporters, she took that daring leap and accomplished the historic skydive that would etch her name into the record books.
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Speaking to the eager crowd and the press, the Chicago native shared her thoughts on how it felt to be back on solid ground. With a beaming smile, she described the experience as nothing short of amazing. “Wonderful. But it was wonderful up there, too,” Hoffner stated. “The whole thing was delightful, wonderful, couldn’t have been better if we thought of it ourselves.”
Dorothy Hoffner unveils her future endeavors
Hoffner expressed profound happiness at the prospect of securing a world record, particularly at her age, proving that age is truly just a number when it comes to pursuing one’s passions and embracing adventure. She also extended her heartfelt appreciation to the people who had gathered to witness the special moment in her life. “Thank you for being here,” Hoffner said. “I think that’s very wonderful of you.”
The 104-year-old showed no signs of slowing down and made it clear that she had no intentions of putting an end to her adventurous spirit anytime soon. During conversations about her forthcoming endeavors, Hoffner teased the possibility of not just a third skydive attempt but also an exciting hot air balloon excursion. “I’ve never been on one,” she confessed.
