Rachel Thomas (skydiver)
Rachel Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kerala, India |
| Occupation | Skydiver |
| Years active | since 1979 |
| Awards | Padma Shri National Adventure Sports Award |
Rachel Thomas is an Indian sportsperson, known to be the first woman skydiver from India.[1][2] A former employee of Indian Railways, she is reported to be the first international woman judge from India and has the record of skydiving over the North Pole in 2002.[1][2][3] She is known to have effected 650 jumps[2] in 18 countries[3] in her career since her first jump in 1979.[1] She has been a member of the team that did practice jumps into the Olympic Stadium, Seoul, Korea, one year prior to the 1988 Summer Olympics.[3] A winner of the National Adventure Sports Award,[1] she was honored again by the Government of India, again in 2005, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.[4]
Rachel Thomas is married to Thomas,[5] an Indian Army officer and the family lives in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.[3] The couple has two children, a son, Dennis, and a daughter, Annie who is a Femina Miss India winner in 1998.[3][6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "Hindustan Times". Hindustan Times. June 16, 2008. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
- ^ a b c "The Hindu". The Hindu. July 11, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "TOI". TOI. November 16, 2003. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
- ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Padma Awards. 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ "India Tribune". India Tribune. November 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
- ^ "Beauty Pageant International". Beauty Pageant International. August 17, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2014.