The thought of jumping out of a plane with nothing but a parachute to save me is one of the more daunting things I can think of…
But for this centenarian, it’s a piece of cake, after she shattered the world record for the oldest person to partake in a skydiving adventure.
Facing one’s fears can be a terrifying task for most of us, especially when it involves a sport so extreme… Nevertheless, Dorothy Hoffner, a remarkable 104-year-old, managed to accomplish this awe-inspiring feat without a hitch.
Dorothy, who is from northern Illinois, embarked on a journey that would cement her name into history. Her destination: the skies above, where the brave centenarian was determined to rewrite the record books. This required her to board an aircraft that would ascend to a dizzying altitude of 13,500 feet.
The moment of truth arrived as Dorothy received the signal that it was time to take the plunge. Strapped securely to her trusty dive instructor, she took a fearless leap from the plane, hurtling through the atmosphere at breakneck speed for a few exhilarating seconds before the parachute was deployed.
Touching down once more on solid ground at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, Dorothy couldn’t contain her excitement and proudly shouted: “Age is just a number.” Her resilience and spirit made her an instant legend among the gathered crowd who were watching her in awe from below.
Once she made it to the ground, Dorothy’s loved ones hugged her, before she grabbed her red walker to assist her in making her way back.
Reflecting on the extraordinary experience, Dorothy couldn’t help but express her sheer delight, saying: “It was wonderful up there. The whole thing was delightful, wonderful, couldn’t have been better.”
Though, this was not Dorothy’s first skydive. She revealed that she had been fortunate enough to experience the thrill of the skies before the the Covid-19 pandemic.
The team at Skydive Chicago is now working to have Dorothy Hoffner’s record-breaking jump officially certified by Guinness World Records. The previous record was held by 103-year-old Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson from Sweden, who made her daring leap from a plane in May 2022.
As she looks forward to celebrating her 105th birthday in December, Dorothy is not even close to stopping. In fact, she has her sights set on a new adventure — taking to the skies in a hot air balloon.
It doesn’t matter what you think, Dorothy is sure a woman to look up to!
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