Albuquerque Skydiver, 74, Set New World Record
Rich Greenwood completed a wingsuit flight to claim the title of the oldest person to perform the feat.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Extreme Sports
Live Poll
Do you believe individuals should continue pursuing demanding physical hobbies throughout their retirement years?
At 74 years old, Albuquerque resident Rich Greenwood has completed a wingsuit skydive to challenge the existing world record. He has submitted the jump to Guinness World Records for official ratification.
Why it matters
Greenwood pursued the feat to surpass the previous record held by a 67-year-old skydiver. His successful jump marks a significant return to the sport following his recovery from a cancer diagnosis.
Rich Greenwood brings over 50 years of total skydiving experience to the record attempt, including 30 years specifically flying wingsuits. His age of 74 beats the previous record of 67.
The players
Rich Greenwood
He is a 74-year-old skydiver from Albuquerque with over five decades of experience in the sport.
Guinness World Records
This global organization is the primary authority responsible for tracking, verifying, and officializing record-breaking human achievements.
The details
Greenwood performed the wingsuit skydive to cement his place in aviation history after a long career in the sport. He had previously paused his skydiving activities in 2016 to undergo and recover from cancer treatment.
Timeline
2016: Greenwood paused his skydiving career following a cancer diagnosis.
September 12-13, 2026: Greenwood performed the record-attempting wingsuit skydive.
Season Trajectory
This jump updates the historical performance ceiling for extreme sports athletes in the wingsuit discipline. By setting this new mark, Greenwood shifts the competitive focus toward longevity and career duration in high-stakes aerial sports.
The success of this jump will officially place a new age benchmark of 74 in the Guinness World Record archives for wingsuit aviation. Athletes and enthusiasts must now measure future attempts against this new standard of longevity in the sport.
The takeaway
Age does not have to be a barrier to pursuing high-intensity athletic goals even after major health challenges. Staying committed to a lifelong passion can provide a powerful focus for physical and mental recovery.
Further reading
For more on high-altitude feats, visit Extreme Sports.
Live Poll
Do you believe individuals should continue pursuing demanding physical hobbies throughout their retirement years?
