77-Year-Old Bengaluru Veteran Runs Siberian Marathon and Skydives in Omsk

Lt Col (retd) OPN Kalyan, a 77-year-old army veteran based in Bengaluru, achieved a long-cherished dream by participating in the XXXVI Siberian International Marathon in Omsk on August 1, followed by a 3,000-metre tandem skydive over the city the next day.

Kalyan, who is known for his penchant for engaging in adventure sports despite his age, reached Omsk on July 31 to take part in the event. He joined around 6,190 runners in the gruelling 10-km-long marathon, where he was one of only four international participants alongside two runners from Kenya and one from Ethiopia.

Participating in the North Asian event marked a major personal milestone for the veteran. Kalyan expressed that representing India in Siberia had been a lifetime ambition that he was finally able to accomplish at the age of 77, describing the run as a proud and emotional moment.

The very next day, Kalyan took to the skies again for a high-altitude tandem skydiving jump over Omsk. Jumping from an altitude of approximately 3,000 metres, he experienced roughly 40 seconds of freefall while travelling at speeds of nearly 200 kmph before his parachute opened at about 1,700 metres.

Following the successful descent, Kalyan described the jump as a wonderful and thrilling experience over Siberia, calling the freefall unforgettable as he added to his list of extreme sports achievements.