On Saturday, world champion skydiver Pierre Wolnik was in the middle of a jump over Mont Blanc when tragedy struck. His parachute failed to open, and Wolnik struck the ground at “high speed,” according to the Irish Mirror.
Authorities discovered Wolnik’s body in Les Bossons, a village in the Chamonix Valley, according to TF1 Infos. Paramedics pronounced Wolnik dead at the scene. The renowned French daredevil was 37.
What Happened?
On Feb. 7, Wolnik, clad in a wingsuit, rode a helicopter up to the top of the Mont Blanc range. According to Le Figaro, he jumped out of the aircraft. During his descent, however, his parachute malfunctioned and did not open.
Wolnik was an experienced skydiver, winning the 2022 and 2024 wingsuit world championships. He was set to participate in the upcoming 2026 competition.
He also worked as a coach for aspiring skydivers and as a videographer for the French Federation of Parachuting (FFP), according to the Daily Beast.
Wolnik frequently posted videos of his flights and training on social media. In his final post on Jan. 20 on Instagram, he was training in an air tunnel with other athletes for a four-man flight.
In a social media post, the FFP expressed its condolences for Wolnik’s family and friends: “Today, the entire skydiving community mourns and pays tribute to a young man known for his talent and human qualities.”
FreeFly Family, a Facebook community group dedicated to skydiving, remembered Wolnik. “Pierre is gone, but he is still a Jedi and his spirit will never leave us,” the post said. “May he give us the strength he encouraged so much.”
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