“It’s incredible”: at the age of 86, an American grandmother skydived for the 1000th time

He had just accomplished a real feat, surrounded by his family. Kim Knor, 86, skydived for the 1000th time on November 6 at Jump Florida Skydiving in Lake Wales (United States). His two daughters, ages 58 and 56, and his 28-year-old granddaughter were on the air with him. “It’s so beautiful,” Kim Knor commented to People. For this eighty-year-old man, sharing moments with his family is “the most interesting thing”. “It was great to have them with me,” he added.

“One of the things they said to me that really touched me was: You have made many sacrifices. You’ve gone back and forth in this sport trying to hit your thousands of jumps, and you’ve given up so much to stop and lift us.and we’re happy to be here to celebrate it “, he continued.

“You don’t know what you’re missing”

Kim Knor started skydiving at age 18, People reported. To get on the air the first time, he had forged his parents’ signatures. He said he never felt anxious about throwing himself into the void. “I never felt anxious. I mean, I wished I could fly into space, but it never made me stressed or anxious or anything like that,” he recalled. “I love freefalling. I enjoy freefalling… because I enjoy floating in the canopy, looking down at the earth and saying: Oh, poor people. You don’t know what you’re missingz,” he explained. According to the eighty-year-old man, skydiving allows him to find balance.

“When things get too stressful or whatever, I just go up high and jump and I get all this positive energy that heals my body and balances my chemistry. It keeps you healthy,” he said.

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Decades of rest

Kim Knor joined the first American women’s skydiving team, even winning a gold medal at the World Championships in 1962.

However, the sportswoman postponed these activities to take care of her family and raise her children, as mentioned by her daughter. Finally, at the age of 60, he returned to skydiving, visiting 90 drop zones throughout the United States.

Second teenager: “When I see people suffering and hear their families tell them: Oh, you shouldn’t do that, you’re too old to do that, or you’re too weak to do that. No, that’s not true. When you start to get older, it’s easy to put things aside. Well, if you don’t need me anymore, I’ll do my own thing and do what I like instead of just sitting around waiting to be needed. he told National Geographic.

Kim Knor received the Golden Wings Award from the United States Parachute Association (USPA), which is given to the parachutist who completes his or her 1,000th jump. Now, the eighty-year-old has a new goal: jump over the Egyptian pyramids, and “work for the next 1,000 people!” »