Jim Wigginton

Jim Wigginton (born 23. February 1949) is a businessman, former U.S. Marine, American explorer and world record holder.[1] In 2020, he became the world's oldest person to reach the Challenger Deep at the age of 71 years and 124 days. The expedition was made with Guinness World Record holder Victor Vescovo and NASA astronaut Dr. Kathy Sullivan.[2][3] When Wigginton completed this dive, he became the 13th person and the first former U.S. Marine to reach the Challenger Deep.[4]

In 2019, he became the world record holder for highest tandem parachute jump with Arkadiusz Majewski.[5]

Wigginton established the Punya Thyroid Cancer Research Foundation at the University of Michigan after his wife died of thyroid cancer in 2013.[6] His extreme adventures are his way of attracting attention to the Foundation and raising money for it.

Wigginton is from Crittenden County, Kentucky and lives in Belleville, Michigan.[7]

References
  1. "Expedition to Earth's lowest point earns Guinness records for three". UPI. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  2. "71-year-old Jim Wigginton becomes the oldest person to reach Challenger Deep". Guinness World Records. 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  3. "American explorer plunges to new lows on quest to visit the oceans' hidden depths". Guinness World Records. 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  4. "Dive Series 2". Caladan Oceanic. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  5. "The Extreme Devotion of the 7-Mile Man | Medicine at Michigan". medicineatmichigan.org. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  6. "Wigginton dives 7 miles below earth's surface near Guam | The Belleville Independent". bellevilleareaindependent.com. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  7. "First Person to Skydive from 7 Miles high and Dive in a submersible: James C. Wigginton sets world record". www.worldrecordacademy.org. 2020-08-24. Retrieved 2020-11-30.


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