From gold medal to 'Gold Wings': 86-year-old skydiver's mission to 1,000 skydives nears historic finish

From Gold Medal to 'Gold Wings': 86-Year-Old Skydiver's Historic Mission

At 86 years old, Kim Knor is demonstrating that age is no barrier as she nears her goal of completing 1,000 skydives. Achieving this milestone will earn her the United States Parachute Association Gold Wings.

Early Beginnings and Inspiration

Kim started skydiving in 1959. Reflecting on her journey, she said,

"I started out in 1959, and it's been a long journey."
Her passion for the sport began when, at 18 years old, she forged her parents’ signatures to make her first jump.

She recalled,

"When I was 20 years old, I was living in Chicago and heard these guys that had come back from Korea, and they were talking about they were airborne, and now they're in reserves. And they said, you know, that parachuting stuff would really be fun."

Competitive Success and Hiatus

Kim soon became a member of the first U.S. Women’s Parachute Team, securing gold at the 1962 World Championships. After competing intensely for 18 years, she paused her skydiving career in 1967 to focus on raising her family, stepping away for 37 years.

Return and Final Push

In 2003, she reignited her passion and resumed skydiving with a clear mission to reach 1,000 jumps. Recently, at Skydive City in Zephyrhills, she completed her 999th jump. Frances Lin, a fellow skydiver and reporter, accompanied Kim on this milestone jump on October 26.

Kim made over 50 jumps at Skydive City during this latest phase of her journey.

WATCH: Kim Knor's 999th Jump at Skydive City in Zephyrhills

Author's summary: Kim Knor’s lifelong dedication to skydiving defies age limits as she nears a historic 1,000 jumps, inspiring both veterans and newcomers alike.

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Tampa Bay 28 Tampa Bay 28 — 2025-11-05

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