Where did skydiving originate from?

Answer 1

This is debated with some saying it happened in the 17th century or even earlier in the 12th century by the Chinese.

However, the first documented case of a parachute jump (not a freefall skydive) was by Jacques Garnerin in 1797.

The first freefall with a packed parachute was by Georgia Broadwick in 1914. She opened her parachute herself instead of using a static line.

Answer 2

Skydiving is primarily related to freefall or falling through the sky towards the ground. However, its origins are from the sport of parachuting which began around 1793 in France. Parachutes were seen as an emergency escape system from early aeronautic balloons. Very quickly thereafter, the sport progressed to demonstration parachute descents with travelling fairs and attractions. It was not until the parachute container was invented that parachutists decided to delayed the opening of their parachute. From this, the sport of skydiving was born.