LAKE WALES, Fla. (WFLA) — An 86-year-old woman achieved her life’s mission to reach 1,000 jumps in Florida on Thursday.
The woman, Kim Knor, earned the United States Parachute Association Gold Wings Award for her dedication to the skies.
Knor reached this milestone while tandem jumping with Hall of Fame skydiver Jay Stokes alongside her two daughters, USPA said.
According to a press release from USPA, Knor knew she wanted to skydive after her uncle brought home a military parachute from World War II. She made this dream a reality, forging her parents’ signatures to make her first jump at age 18.
Knor made history as a member of the first US Women’s Parachute Team, winning gold at the sixth World Parachuting Championships in 1962.
After a 37-year hiatus to raise her children, Knor embarked on her journey to earn her Gold Wings with 545 solo jumps completed, using tandem jumping as a method to help achieve this aspiration.
USPA said Knor visited 90 drop zones since setting this goal in 2023, inspiring fellow skydivers and adventure seekers to defy limits and chase lifelong dreams.
“Dreams come true,” Knor said after completing 1,000 jumps. “There’s no expiration date for the dream, so you just keep getting up.”
Knor will receive her USPA Gold Wings Award on Friday at the 2025 International Skydiving Hall of Fame Celebration.