Felix Baumgartner

Felix Baumgartner is an Austrian skydiver, daredevil, and BASE jumper who became the first person to break the sound barrier during a descent.

Daredevil

April 20, 1969

Taurus

55

Salzburg, Austria

Felix Baumgartner, an Austrian adventurer, daredevil, and skydiver, rose to global prominence in 2012 when he shattered the sound barrier by leaping from a helium balloon in the stratosphere to Earth. This remarkable achievement, recorded by a helmet-mounted camera, transformed him into an internet phenomenon. Baumgartner’s leap established numerous records, such as the highest exit altitude, the longest vertical freefall distance without a drogue parachute, and the fastest vertical speed without a drogue. Additionally, he holds the record for the highest altitude BASE jump from Dubai’s Burj Khalifa skyscraper. Other significant accomplishments include base jumping from Malaysia’s Petronas Towers and Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue. Baumgartner has earned various awards for his daring feats, including the Laureus World Sports Award for Action Sports Person of the Year.

An intriguing aspect of Felix Baumgartner’s story is that he was the first individual to break the sound barrier relative to the Earth’s surface without using vehicular power during his descent. He also set skydiving records for exit altitude, vertical freefall distance without a drogue parachute, and vertical speed without a drogue.