Russian athlete Sergey Boytcov has set a new world record with a skydive from a hot air balloon at 11,551 metres, in support of the International Festival of Youth 2026 set for Ekaterinburg in September.
A Record-Breaking Jump
Ahead of Russia’s National Flag Day, skydiver and multiple record holder Sergey Boytcov jumped from a hot air balloon at an altitude of 11,551 metres, surpassing the previous world record of 10,060 metres set by Polish extreme athletes. The jump was carried out under the Stratum Jump 11-12 project by the company Created by the Heavens, in support of the International Festival of Youth 2026, part of Russia’s Youth and Children national project.
The balloon was piloted by Ivan Menyaylo, President of the Balloon Federation of Russia and a world champion balloonist. Boytcov, based in Klin in the Moscow Region, brings more than 25 years of skydiving experience, over 2,000 jumps, and holds the highest international skydiving certification. During the jump, his free-fall speed exceeded 500 km/h, with the full flight lasting just over seven minutes before his parachute deployed at 1,565 metres. He landed safely in Altai Territory, while the balloon crew also completed their flight without incident after more than three hours airborne.
The balloon itself reached a peak altitude of 11,610 metres, setting a new Russian national record for balloon altitude, surpassing the mark set in 2025 by explorer Fyodor Konyukhov and Menyaylo in the same region.
Extensive Preparation in Extreme Conditions
At altitudes above 11 kilometres, temperatures dropped to around -59°C, requiring specialised engineering and months of preparation. With support from Roscosmos, Boytcov trained in a pressure chamber simulating 12 kilometres of altitude and tested equipment in sub-zero conditions and wind tunnels. The project relied entirely on domestically produced Russian equipment, including the balloon system, parachute gear, oxygen systems and high-altitude clothing, and received backing from Russia’s Ministry of Sport, the Russian Olympic Committee, and several state and corporate partners.
Boytcov described the jump as the most meaningful moment of his career, framing it as proof that ambitious goals are achievable through preparation, teamwork and belief in the outcome.
About the Festival
The International Festival of Youth will run in Ekaterinburg from September 11 to 17, 2026, under the motto “Follow Your Dream.” The event, established by presidential decree in December 2025, will bring together 10,000 young leaders from 191 countries, including 5,000 Russian citizens and 5,000 foreign nationals, among them 1,000 teenagers aged 14 to 17.
Sources: International Festival of Youth press release; content and images via Yandex Disk link
