41-Year-Old Pioneer Balances Motherhood as First Woman to Conquer Skydiving in North Pole, South Pole, and Mount Everest

Published 11/14/2023, 2:05 PM EST

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In the realm of daring endeavors, a 41-year-old mother of two has set new records with her thrill-seeking feats. Shital Mahajan, a skydiving expert, embraced an audacious target; security triumphs as a luminous trailblazer. Achieving her feat that echoed across the frozen landscapes of the North Pole, she also made her mark across the vast expanses of the South Pole. But that did not stop her, as Shital chose the highest peak in the world to be her next target! 

As a Padma Shri awardee, the nationally honored skydiving enthusiast had her focus on the towering heights of Mount Everest. And sticking to her words, she recently accomplished the challenge with flying colors. The over-a-week-long skydiving trip began on November 7, a journey not merely about extreme sports, but to break barriers and stereotypes. So, was that all in her possession of thrilling escapades? No, Shital had much more to her adventurous life! 

Skydiving dedication earns an array of titles

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Embarking on an astounding venture that spanned 11 days, Shital began her Everest mission after arriving in Kathmandu. Imagine the audacity of leaping from an AS350 B3 chopper, soaring above the world’s highest peak at 29,035 feet! That is what the skydiving lover chose, igniting a breathtaking dance with the clouds that unfolded against the majestic backdrop of Mount Everest.

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Initiating the jump from 23,000 feet just below Everest, Mahajan showcased her prowess with excellence. Remarkably, her parachute openings were meticulously planned, ranging between 16,000 and 18,000 feet AMSL. While the landing sites consisted of notable Himalayan dreamlands, it included the Amadablam base camp at 15,000 ft. as well as Syangboche at 12,402 ft. Emerging triumphant in her unparalleled aerial adventure, Mahajan earned a title that left an iconic trail behind. 

Electrifying diver adds passion to personal feats

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The Indian dynamo, with five world records and 14 national records, has been rewriting the rules of skydiving since her first leap into the air in 2002. Reportedly, she became the first woman to excel in skydiving over the Everest, the North Pole, and the South Pole. But that was not the entire canvas of Shital’s skyward odyssey.

She also conducted the record-breaking descent at the North Pole in 2004, from a height of 2400 feet without any prior training! Incredibly, her passion for the skies was not limited to dives, as she recently founded the Phoenix Skydiving Academy. Additionally, the pro diver also got married in the air, with the ceremony conducted in a hot-air balloon in 2008, flying about 600-feet above the ground! 

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Aiming to provide affordable training in skydiving and scuba diving, Shital Mahajan now dreams of touching the boundless horizon with her inspirational career. As the first woman who danced with the clouds and kissed the peaks of the world, Shital’s tale continues to inspire future divers, bringing pride to her community. 

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Written by:

Sanchari Bhaduri

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Sanchari Bhaduri is a Viral Sports Moments writer at EssentiallySports. Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from IGNOU, she embarked on her content creation career in 2015 with freelance projects. Her previous role involved her serving as a Content Manager for Reddit.
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Edited by:

Anuj Jacob