104-year-old woman goes skydiving, breaks record

Chicago woman Dorothy Hoffner, 104, has done what many might think would be impossible for someone her age: She went skydiving and possibly broke a world record.

Hoffner, who is an adrenaline junkie, had the Skydive Chicago group upload a video of her attempting to break the Guinness World Record for skydiving from an aeroplane. While her record is still in the process of being verified, she may soon be declared the oldest person to perform a tandem skydive.

Hoffner is no stranger to extreme sports; her recent skydive adventure was not her first. Her first skydiving session was on her 100th birthday, which came after she had already gone ziplining at age 95. According to Hoffner, when she reached the set altitude and was about to exit, she stood up, went to the door, put her feet out, and left the plane, calling the experience “amazing.”

It’s clear that despite her age, Hoffner has always been active, and she doesn’t let her age hold her back. A healthy mindset which sadly many older adults often tend to lack, as they feel as if their lives have already passed and that they are just waiting for their inevitable deaths.

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But Hoffner believes otherwise. She is an example of how anyone can feel alive, no matter what their age is, and that activities like skydiving help her feel invigorated and alive. “It’s fun, it looked so nice and peaceful! You could see the whole countryside, it was so beautiful,” Hoffner said of her recent skydiving experience.

Hoffner’s experience got a lot of attention online, with most comments being in support of her and the way she lives her life. One can only hope it would set a positive example to others that no matter their age, they shouldn’t feel like they are too old to let themselves enjoy life and what it has to offer. As Hoffner proves, no matter where you are in life, the sky is only the limit if you believe it should be.