Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Jan. 9 (UPI) -- An 86-year-old California woman is swinging into the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest trapeze artist. Betty Goedhart of La Jolla said she never would have captured the record for oldest performing flying female trapeze artist if she hadn't received a gift certificate for a lesson at Trapeze High in Escondido for her 78th birthday. Advertisement She said trying the sport helped her overcome her longstanding fear of heights. "Very frightened of heights, very scared of standing on that platform and looking down and it's higher than you think," Goedhart told KSWB-TV. "But I'm here, I jumped and it was like it changed my life." Goedhart now has a spot in the 2019 Guinness Book of World Records, but she said she hopes her record doesn't stand forever. "But I hope somebody beats me someday," Goedhart said. "I was honored and it still is an honor." Read More Wales challenging New Zealand for steepest street record Dam-building project breaks Guinness record for concrete pouring Guinness confirms new blanket fort size record
