104-Year-Old Chicago Woman Sets World Record as Oldest Skydiver

A lively 104-year-old Chicagoan named Dorothy Hoffner attempted to make history on Sunday by being the oldest person to ever skydive. Hoffner exchanged her walker for a harness and parachute at Skydive Chicago Airport in Ottawa, Illinois, some 85 miles southwest of Chicago, and went on an exhilarating 13,500-foot tandem jump.

As Hoffner safely fell, applause broke out as she achieved a record-breaking seven-minute jump. She gave the audience a speech about her worldview after landing, saying, “Age is just a number.” Skydive Chicago is currently pursuing official Guinness World Records certification for her accomplishment.

If Hoffner’s leap is accepted, it will be greater than the existing world record, which was established in May 2022 by Sweden’s 103-year-old Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson. Hoffner was no stranger to the air; at the age of 100, she successfully completed her first skydiving, initiating her descent with a spectacular push from the plane. But this time, Hoffner took the initiative and bravely led the jump by herself.

With a little help, Hoffner climbed the stairs and left her red walker next to the plane, poised to smash records. Being described as “calm and confident,” she approached the aircraft’s edge while attached to an instructor licensed by the U.S. Parachute Association and made her leap of faith.

Hoffner landed safely on an airport grassy patch, to the consternation of friends who congratulated her. She was beaming with happiness as she said it was “delightful, wonderful, couldn’t have been better” overall.

As December approaches and Hoffner turns 105, she doesn’t appear to be slowing down. She’s actually already planning her next flight adventure: a hot-air balloon excursion. She said, “I’ve never been in one of those,” showcasing her spirit of adventure and will to try new things at any age. The remarkable path of Hoffman bears witness to the seemingly endless possibilities that aging may provide when approached with excitement and a spirit of adventure.