Pierre Wolnik, a two-time world champion skydiver and member of France’s national team, died Saturday after his parachute failed to open during a wingsuit jump over the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps. He was 37.
His body was discovered in the village of Les Bossons, located in the Chamonix valley. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene, according to Le Figaro. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the apparent technical failure.
Wolnik earned the title of freefly world champion in both 2022 and 2024, according to Le Figaro. He was also scheduled to represent France at the upcoming FAI World Championships, according to French media.
“The entire skydiving community mourns and pays tribute to a young man known for his talent and human qualities,” the group shared. “On behalf of the whole of the federation, we send our sincere condolences to his family, his relatives, as well as his teammates, his coach, and all the French teams who had the chance to be with him.”
Although wingsuit flying and freeflying are distinct forms, both are considered advanced forms of skydiving.
Sometimes called wingsuiting, it involves using a specialized suit with fabric wings stretching between the legs and under the arms, turning the skydiver into a human airfoil.
Freeflying is performed without a specialized suit and involves skydivers maneuvering in vertical orientations, such as head-down or sit-fly positions. This increases descent speed, allowing rapid, dynamic movement through the air, in contrast to wingsuit flying. Freeflyers can reach speeds of up to 200 mph.