Québec duo sets world record after jumping from hot air balloons | The Canadian News

Quebec athletes Lysanne Richard and Yves Milord are causing a sensation in the high jump world and have set a new world record.

The duo took a timed dive last week, launching from two flying hot air balloons into the waters of the Richelieu River.

According to a statement, the divers set the new world record by jumping from small platforms mounted on the edge of balloon baskets with Richard flipping from a height of 25 meters and Milord from a height of 23 meters.

Richard, a mother of three, has already made a name for herself in the high jump world, with 14 podium finishes, including three victories at the Red Bull Cliff Diving circuit. She was also named Best Diving Athlete of the Year in 2016 after a World Cup victory in Abu Dhabi.

Milord, meanwhile, has more than 35 years of experience in stunts and extreme diving.

The idea of ​​record immersion first came to Richard in 2016, according to a statement, but his dream actually came true through a partnership with International de montgolfières de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, organizers of a festival. annual international hot air balloons. southeast of Montreal.

Last week’s dive required a team of 40 professionals, including experienced balloon pilots, to bring the project to fruition.

Some of the challenges included establishing a hot air balloon safety committee to determine ideal flight conditions, testing the water in the river, and building custom platforms.

Organizers said that unlike other aircraft, you cannot steer a hot air balloon.

“The pilot and his team have to accurately judge the direction and speed of the wind, which varies greatly with altitude and weather, in order to maneuver the balloon towards the target location and the depth of water required for the dive.”

Preparations included practicing air cushion jumps from a balloon anchored to the ground and diving into the water at the Flintkote quarry at Thetford Mines.

And while the stunt took months to complete, the actual dives lasted just three seconds as Richard and Milord spun through the air at speeds of over 70 kilometers per hour.

It is an achievement that Richard is proud of.

“Deciding to take on such a challenge requires a lifetime of stunt experience, as well as specific training and a powerful mental visualization of the dive,” Richard said in a press release. “I am very proud to have succeeded, together with Yves, in achieving this feat, which I have been dreaming of for several years.”

The dive was first scheduled for August 16, but had to be delayed due to unsafe wind conditions.

“It’s really a unique feeling to experience this joy after months of preparation,” Richard said.