SALISBURY, N.C. – On Wednesday, May 8 at 12:30 pm, 85-year-old Kim Knor will make three tandem skydives at Piedmont Skydiving, continuing her pursuit to complete 1,000 skydives and earn the “Gold Wings” from the United States Parachute Association. These wings are awarded to anyone achieving 1,000 free falls. Currently, Kim has completed 652 jumps and aims to increase her total to 655 by Wednesday afternoon.
The tenacious octogenarian has been traveling solo across the United States in her RV, visiting various dropzones. Kim made her first skydive in 1959 and by 1962, she was a world champion, having competed on the very first US Women’s National Team that clinched gold at the World Championships. Her myriad achievements in the sport led to her induction into the International Skydiving Hall of Fame in 2013.
After accumulating about 550 jumps and while raising two small children, Kim stepped away from the sport for 37 years to focus on her family. Following the loss of her husband and with her children grown, Kim felt a compelling desire to achieve her long-unfulfilled goal of earning her Gold Wings. Driven by this ambition, she sold her home in Colorado, bought an RV, and embarked on her mission to complete 1,000 jumps.
The upcoming jumps not only underscore Kim’s steadfast commitment to skydiving but also highlight her role as a source of inspiration for both the young and the young-at-heart.
