Pierre Wolnik, a two-time world champion and one of France’s most prominent figures in the sport of freefly skydiving, was killed over the weekend in a parachuting accident near Mont Blanc. He was 37.
According to reports, the accident occurred during a jump from a helicopter above the Alpine mountain range. After several seconds of controlled flight, Wolnik approached the altitude at which he was expected to deploy his parachute. However, the parachute reportedly failed to open, and he fell from a significant height.
Emergency teams were dispatched immediately but were unable to save him. His body was airlifted from the scene by helicopter.
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, focusing on the equipment used—including the parachute deployment system, as well as the technical sequence of the jump. Investigators are working to determine whether the tragedy resulted from mechanical failure, human error or another cause.
Wolnik was widely regarded as one of the sport’s top athletes in aerial acrobatics, known as freefly, which emphasizes complex mid-air maneuvers and precise body control. He earned world championship titles in 2022 and 2024, cementing his status as a leading figure in international skydiving.
In addition to his competitive achievements, Wolnik was a member of France’s national skydiving team and had recently begun training for the 2026 World Championship. He was also active on social media, where he frequently shared footage from wind tunnel sessions and alpine jumps.