The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) accepts the definition of space starting at 100km (62 miles) above sea level. But they also acknowledge the “edge of space” which is considerably lower. In using the term “edge of space” then Kittinger was the first.
I posted a video in the We Have a Winner thead. In first video the narrator states he was technically the first person in space. I just thought it was kind of cool and wanted to share.