Russian athlete and multiple world record holder Sergey Boytcov jumped from a hot air balloon at an altitude of 11,551 meters, setting an absolute world record. He significantly surpassed the previous record of 10,060 meters.

"We achieved something that not long ago seemed impossible. This record-breaking descent from an altitude of more than 11.5 km is the result not only of my own painstaking work, but of the engineers, pilots and the whole project team. What matters especially is that this record was set in Russia, using domestically produced equipment. I am glad that, on the National Flag Day, I was able to dedicate this achievement to my country and to the International Festival of Youth. I hope our example shows young people all over the world that even the boldest goals become reality when they are backed by knowledge, hard work, a team, and belief in the outcome," said Sergey Boytcov.

The athlete's free-fall speed exceeded 500 km/h, and the total flight lasted seven minutes and nineteen seconds. The parachute deployed successfully at an altitude of 1,565 meters. The landing took place in the Ust-Kalmanka District of Altai Territory. Viewers around the world were able to watch the event live, with the broadcast airing via the International Festival of Youth's community page on VK.

The hot air balloon — piloted by Ivan Menyaylo, President of the Balloon Federation of Russia and a world champion — reached a maximum altitude of 11,610 meters. This also set a new national record for balloon altitude, surpassing the previous record of 10,678 meters, set in the same region of Altai Territory in 2025 by renowned Russian explorer Fyodor Konyukhov, together with Ivan Menyaylo.

Sergey Boytcov's jump shows that even the most ambitious goals are achievable with a reliable team behind them. The international festival movement gives young people around the world the chance to find like-minded people to help realize their ambitions. Follow Your Dream!

Overview:

The International Festival of Youth will take place in Ekaterinburg from September 11 to 17, 2026, as part of the Youth and Children national project. The decree establishing the international youth event was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 29, 2025.

The Festival will be held under the motto "Follow Your Dream" and will bring together 10,000 young leaders from 191 countries. Participants will include 5,000 Russian citizens and 5,000 foreign nationals, including 1,000 teenagers aged 14 to 17.