104-Year-Old Skydiver Jumps Her Way Into Record Book

OTTAWA, IL — Dorothy Hoffner had already jumped out of a plane once in her life, although she admitted that she needed a little nudge to make it happen.

But on Sunday, the 104-year-old Chicago woman chose to do it again and, in the process, became the oldest person ever to skydive, establishing a new world record at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa.

Sunday’s history-making jump finally took place after being postponed due to inclement weather. But for Hoffner, who will turn 105 in December, finally having the opportunity to skydive again — this time with a Guinness World Record on the line — was almost too good to be true.

“Age is just a number,” Hoffer told reporters after her jump.

Hoffner made the jump with a trained skydiving instructor strapped to her back. However, the adventure-seeking centenarian insisted on being the first one out of the plane rather than needing a friendly push like the first time she jumped at age 100.

Hoffner landed safely on the ground to cheering crowds, just more than seven minutes after she began her descent.

“She seems to know what she’s doing, so it makes my job a whole lot easier,” Skydive Chicago instructor Derek Baxter told reporters on Sunday.

The Guinness World Record for the oldest skydiver was set in May 2022 by 103-year-old Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson from Sweden. Guinness officials will now work to make Hoffner’s jump official before she sets her sights on her next adventure.

Hoffner said on Sunday she had never been up in a hot air balloon and would like to give that a try.

After all, being in the sky seems to be in her blood.

“It was wonderful up there,” Hoffner told reporters after landing and being asked about the experience.

“The whole thing was delightful, wonderful, couldn’t have been better.”