Meet Kim Knor, the 86-year-old ‘skydiving grandma’ with 1,000 jumps

At 86, Kim Knor has just completed her 1,000th skydive, earning the prestigious United States Parachute Association Gold Wings Award. Known affectionately as the “skydiving grandma,” Knor celebrated this incredible milestone in New Wales, Florida, making the jump alongside her two daughters, a testament to her enduring passion for the sport and the adventurous spirit she continues to embody.

Kim’s love for skydiving began when she was just 18, daring enough to forge her parents’ signatures to make her very first jump. Her boldness didn’t stop there. In 1962, she became a member of the first U.S. Women’s Parachute Team, a groundbreaking achievement that cemented her place in the history of American skydiving. After taking several decades off to raise a family, she returned to the skies with renewed vigour and, in 2013, was rightfully inducted into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame, honouring her decades-long contribution to the sport.

In recent years, Knor has been travelling across the United States in her 21-foot motor home, visiting drop zones and completing nearly 500 tandem jumps since 2023. Her dedication to skydiving has not only kept her physically fit but also mentally sharp, providing a model of what it means to age actively and pursue passions without limits. She told National Geographic, “I think a lot of the things we think can’t happen, or we can’t do, are mental. When I see people being told, ‘You’re too old,’ I say, no, you’re not. You just have to do what you love.”

Her daily life reflects the same disciplined, active mindset. She exercises her memory by planning grocery trips without lists and ensures she keeps her mind engaged through everyday tasks, demonstrating that mental and physical activity are crucial to longevity.

Kim Knor’s journey is far more than a tally of skydives. It is a celebration of courage, determination, and a refusal to let age define limits. Her story serves as an inspiring reminder that life’s adventures are not reserved for the young—anyone willing to chase their passion, defy expectations, and embrace the unknown can continue to soar, both literally and metaphorically, at any age.