(NewsNation) — Kim Knor, better known as the “Skydiving Diva,” made history this week after completing 1,000 jumps.
The 86-year-old took the leap Thursday in Florida and invited NewsNation along to see her live out a dream that began 81 years ago. Her love for skydiving began at the age of 5, when she first saw her uncle’s World War II parachute. But her own journey started in 1959, when she forged her parents’ signatures to make her first jump.
Knor has been breaking barriers ever since. She was a member of the first U.S. Women’s parachute team, which won gold at six World Parachuting Championships.
Over the decades, Knor has descended on more than 90 drop zones across the country. She was joined by her daughters and granddaughter for this week’s monumental moment, as they flew 14,000 feet into the air. Down below, family and friends gathered to await her landing.
“We did it, we did it! I’m so excited,” Knor said. “It’s overwhelming to me, because Colorado is a long way away, and that’s where they came from just for this.”
With 1,000 jumps officially checked off her bucket list, Knor will be honored by the U.S. Parachute Association with her Gold Wings on Friday. When asked if she plans to continue skydiving, Knor told NewsNation she has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.