Kim Knor plans to reach her goal of 1,000 skydives this fall, recently completing her 865th jump. The 86-year-old Michigan native and former gold medalist with the first women's US Parachute Team in 1962 will earn gold wings from the United States Parachute Association upon reaching her milestone. Knor aims for 900 jumps this month while reflecting on the thrill of skydiving, emphasizing the community aspect. Inspired by her uncle's WWII parachute, she began skydiving at age 20 and returned to the sport in 2003 after a 37-year break.
For the moment, you're flying like a bird and there's no airplane or balloon or anything holding me there other than me flying around.
There's a lot of weather that you sit around waiting for the sky to clear, and the people make it worthwhile to wait.
One of her favorite jumps was in Galveston, Texas. The 'unique' dive involved traveling to three locations: an office for filling out paperwork, an airport, and a beach.
As a child, Knor became inspired to take up skydiving when her uncle brought a ripped parachute home from fighting in WWII.
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