Imagine stepping out of a hot-air balloon more than 11 kilometres above the ground—with temperatures plunging to minus 59°C—and then hurtling towards Earth at over 500 km/h. That is exactly what Russian skydiver Sergey Boytcov did, setting a new world record with a breathtaking jump from an altitude of 11,551 metres.

The record-breaking feat was carried out under the Stratum Jump 11–12 project, created by Russian company Created by the Heavens, in support of the 2026 International Festival of Youth.

Boytcov’s jump surpassed the previous record of 10,060 metres, set by Polish extreme athletes.

Seven Minutes of Pure Adrenaline

Once Boytcov stepped out of the balloon, his free-fall speed soared beyond 500 kilometres per hour. His entire descent lasted seven minutes and 19 seconds, before his parachute was deployed at an altitude of 1,565 metres.

He then landed safely in Russia’s Ust-Kalmanka District in the Altai Territory. The balloon itself climbed even higher, reaching 11,610 metres—a new Russian national record. It eclipsed the previous Russian mark of 10,678 metres, established in 2025 by explorer Fyodor Konyukhov and balloonist Ivan Menyaylo in the same region.

A Team Effort at Extreme Altitude

The extraordinary mission was far more than a solo adventure.

The balloon was piloted by Ivan Menyaylo, President of the Balloon Federation of Russia and a world champion, while flight engineer Denis Efremov was also on board. The balloon remained airborne for more than three hours before the crew landed safely.

Boytcov, who celebrated his birthday on August 15, called the achievement the most memorable experience of his life. He credited the engineers, pilots and entire project team for turning an apparently impossible idea into reality.

Training for the Unknown

The record attempt demanded months of preparation for conditions rarely encountered by humans.

With temperatures falling to -59°C and atmospheric conditions changing dramatically above 11 kilometres, Boytcov underwent a test ascent in a pressure chamber at the Cosmonaut Training Centre, simulating conditions at 12 kilometres, with support from Roscosmos. A veteran of more than 2,000 jumps and over 25 years in the sport, Boytcov also holds a USPA Category D licence.

The jump was staged ahead of Russia’s National Flag Day and in support of the International Festival of Youth, scheduled for September 11–17, 2026, in Ekaterinburg.

From an impossibly high balloon to a record-breaking free fall, Boytcov’s leap has turned the Russian skies into the stage for a spectacular new chapter in extreme sport.