The Conversation - Freeflying and the sphere of fear
Download Freeflying and the sphere of fear
Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to an ex-circus performer from Bulgaria and a skydiver from France to find out what it takes to achieve some of the world’s most extreme records.
Bulgarian Getti Kehayova grew up performing in the circus alongside her world-record-holding family. Inspired by her sister, who once held the record for spinning 97 hula hoops at once, Getti wanted a record of her own. After a year of intense training, she earned the Guinness World Record for spinning the largest hula hoop ever for a female: 5.18 metres (17 feet) wide.
Domitille Kiger is a French world champion skydiver who has been involved in ten world records. She led the largest mixed-gender head-down free-fall formation of 96 skydivers and took part in a record-setting night jump with a 42-person team. Every member had fireworks strapped to their feet.
Produced by Emily Naylor
(Image: (L) Getti Kehayova courtesy Getti Kehayova. (R) Domitille Kiger credit zerOGravity.)
Published on Monday, 9th June 2025.
Available Podcasts from The Conversation
We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the The Conversation webpage.