Kim Knor, an 85-year-old woman, is proving that age is nothing but a number as she continues her pursuit of 1,000 tandem skydives. Knor, described as adventurous and brave, has been skydiving since 1959 and has set a goal to complete 1,000 jumps. This weekend, she added Niagara Falls to her list of jumps, marking another milestone in her remarkable journey.
"I've been trying to get to 1,000 jumps since I started in 1959," Knor shared. "I've had many interruptions, raising a family, different things — life gets in the way. But now, with more free time, I'm finishing what I started more than six decades ago."
On Saturday, Knor geared up to jump with the team at Skydive the Falls in Youngstown. Having traveled all over the country and the world to skydive, she had been eagerly looking forward to experiencing the breathtaking view of Niagara Falls from a parachute. "To see it from the sky, oh my gosh, it was really exciting," Knor exclaimed.
The thrill, the rush, and the beauty of seeing the world from a whole different perspective are what drive Knor's passion for skydiving. Jason Berger, co-owner of Skydive the Falls, expressed admiration for Knor's spirit, saying, "It's the thrill, it's the rush, and then it's the beauty of everything, looking at the world from a whole different perspective."
Knor's dedication to the sport has not gone unnoticed. In 1962, she was a member of the first-ever U.S. women's parachute team, paving the way for other women to pursue skydiving. Jennifer Jones, a tandem skydive instructor, credits Knor as a pioneer in the sport.
"Without Kim being the pioneer that she is, I would not have become a tandem instructor," Jones said. "This has been somewhat of a male-dominated sport, but Kim has set the pace for women to develop themselves into instructional positions."
Knor's inspiring journey motivates people of all ages to chase their dreams. Jones, who turned 62 on the same day as Knor's jump, shared, "Kim and I's aggregate age is 147, so I haven't quit yet. I'm still pursuing the sport, and I just hope I can last until 85."
With each jump, Knor moves closer to being awarded her gold wings for completing 1,000 skydives.
"Don't close the doors and listen to people say, 'Oh no, you're not going to do that, that's too scary or this is too this' — you have to feel what's inside you," Knor advised. "You see someone wearing the gold wings, it's really significant. That's what I want. I've got another 328 to go."
Kim Knor's incredible determination and passion for skydiving serve as an inspiration to people of all ages, reminding us that it's never too late to pursue our dreams and embrace the thrill of life's adventures.