skydiving record – A Washington woman with cerebral palsy completed a tandem skydive from 17,694 feet at 125 mph, as Misryoum reports she may have set a state record for droguefall speed and distance.
A Washington state woman born with cerebral palsy has reportedly set a skydiving record after completing a tandem jump at high altitude and at a top speed of 125 mph, according to Misryoum.
Tania Finlayson. who is non-verbal and has no use of her limbs since birth. took to the sky in a carefully coordinated tandem skydive with instructor Zephaniah Knottnerus.. The pair exited the plane from 17. 694 feet. with Finlayson positioned for a supervised jump while her family watched from inside the aircraft.. Misryoum reports the jump is believed to have produced a new Washington state mark for the longest droguefall distance and the highest droguefall vertical speed in the category.
The technical detail matters because droguefall is not just a dramatic part of the experience—it’s the safety mechanism that comes immediately after exit.. A drogue is a small parachute deployed right away to stabilize a skydiver and regulate the fall rate. buying time for the main parachute to open safely.. In a tandem setup. the drogue helps ensure both comfort and control during the critical seconds when the body is still adjusting to freefall.
For Finlayson. the challenge wasn’t simply reaching the sky; it was doing so with a disability that changes how many people can interact with high-impact sports.. Cerebral palsy can affect muscle tone. coordination. and movement. and for Finlayson. daily life requires alternatives to the type of communication most people take for granted.. She uses a customized computer communication system. and Misryoum reports that she has previously completed more than 50 jumps—meaning this was not an experimental first for her.
That background is central to how the story lands beyond the headline.. Skydiving is often framed as a test of nerves. but it also demands timing. process. and trust—elements that can be built through experience and preparation.. When someone already has a track record of jumps. the focus shifts from “can she?” to “how do we verify performance. safety. and measurable outcomes?” Misryoum’s reporting underscores that distinction by centering the technical verification process rather than turning the jump into spectacle alone.
Finlayson is now awaiting confirmation from the United States Parachute Association (USPA) after submitting her data for validation.. The USPA defines the drogue as a trailing drag device designed to slow a diver and regulate tandem fall rate. which is why the recorded measurements—distance and vertical speed during droguefall—have to be checked against the rule set used for official standings.. Until that confirmation arrives. the record remains a “believed” breakthrough. but the intent is clear: the jump is meant to be counted. not just remembered.
Her reaction, as relayed through her communication system, captures why the moment resonates so widely.. Misryoum reports Finlayson described the experience as feeling special and surreal. and she emphasized the feeling of freedom—particularly the idea that. for a short time. her identity is not reduced to disability.. In practical terms, she also highlighted a core benefit that many disabled athletes seek: participation that doesn’t feel conditional.. Tandem skydiving can offer that shared experience because it reduces the need for the individual to control everything themselves while still allowing them to actively take part.
There’s also a broader sports and human-performance angle behind the numbers.. A speed of 125 mph in the sky isn’t just impressive—it signals that the jump reached the measurable conditions needed for an attempt at a ranked droguefall category.. And because the drogue stage is designed to regulate fall rate. the maximum vertical speed during that phase becomes a meaningful indicator of how the jump performed under the specific tandem configuration.
When Misryoum looks at stories like this, the lasting impact often shows up after the jump, not during it.. Confirmation from the governing body can reshape how record categories are perceived and who sees themselves in them.. For the next athlete—or the next family considering adapted or supported participation—this may become a reference point: proof that boundaries can move when safety design. technical verification. and lived experience meet.
In the meantime. Finlayson’s focus remains on what comes next: waiting for official validation and continuing the journey that began with a medical diagnosis at birth.. If the measurements hold up. the record won’t just belong to a single jump—it will stand as a milestone for what “skydiving” can include. even when the starting point is fundamentally different.