A tragic incident occurred on Saturday when Pierre Wolnik, a renowned French world champion wingsuit skydiver, died after his parachute failed to open during a jump over the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps. The 37-year-old athlete had jumped from a helicopter and was in free fall for several seconds before plunging to the ground.
Reports indicate that Wolnik’s parachute did not deploy as he descended towards the rocky terrain. First responders located his body in Les Bossons, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The skydiving community is in mourning following the loss of a talented athlete. Yves-Marie Guillaud, president of the Fédération Française de Parachutisme, expressed his condolences on social media, stating, “The entire sport skydiving community mourns the loss of a talented young man with such a warm smile.” He extended sympathies to Wolnik’s family, teammates, and the broader French national artistic skydiving team.
Wolnik was a celebrated figure in the sport, having claimed his world titles in 2022 and 2024. He was also set to represent France at the 2026 World Air Sports Federal Championships this summer. Alongside his competitive achievements, Wolnik worked as a videographer for the Fédération Française de Parachutisme, capturing thrilling aerial performances that he shared with over 6,000 followers on Instagram.
In his final Instagram post on January 20, 2024, he shared a video of himself training in a wind tunnel, captioning it, “Nothing beats winter four-way training at home.” His account featured numerous posts depicting both exhilarating jumps and intense training sessions that illustrated his dedication to the sport.
The Fédération Française de Parachutisme acknowledged Wolnik’s impact on the community, stating, “A videographer with the French National Artistic Parachuting Team and two-time Freefly World Champion, Pierre leaves behind the memory of a teammate whose presence will forever be etched in the hearts of his loved ones.” The organization emphasized that the entire parachuting community is paying tribute to a young man known for his exceptional talent and character.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the parachute malfunction is currently underway, as authorities seek to understand the factors that led to this tragic event.
