46th WMC Parachuting - Summary News

Closing (1)

SZOLNOK (HUN) – The 46th World Military Parachuting Championship, held in Szolnok, Hungary, kicked off with a grand opening ceremony on July 3, 2024. Teams from Asia, Africa, America, and Europe paraded in traditional CISM (International Military Sports Council) fashion, with Szolnok’s Mayor, Ferenc Szalay, highlighting the town’s long-standing relationship with the Hungarian Defense Forces. A new live scoring system for accuracy jumps was introduced, enhancing spectator engagement.

The competition spanned several days, featuring men’s and women’s events in accuracy, style, and formation skydiving. Early in the championship, male and female athletes faced tough weather conditions, including strong winds, but managed to showcase impressive performances. By Day 5, the female accuracy competition was heating up, with China leading with a score of 13 cm, followed by Italy (42 cm) and France (70 cm). No female Team Accuracy jumps were completed that day due to weather, but China maintained its lead.

Closing (5)

In female formation skydiving, the South Korean team consistently dominated, securing the lead with 110 points, followed by China (91 points) and Brazil (68 points). By Day 6, South Korea continued to hold its top spot in female formation, with little chance of being overtaken. The competition in female accuracy remained intense, and in the Style event, Germany’s OR-6 Tatjana Gustke took the lead after several rounds.

As the competition neared its conclusion, the female accuracy and style events produced exciting results. In female individual accuracy, China remained at the top, finishing with 45 cm, followed by Italy with 120 cm and South Korea with 183 cm. The precision required in this event was notable, with China achieving an average score of just 1.1 cm over 40 jumps.

Closing (4)

In the female style event, Germany’s OR-6 Tatjana Gustke claimed the gold medal with a time of 37.47 seconds. She narrowly edged out China’s Cpt Xiao Yao, who secured silver with 38.20 seconds, and SSC Wang Kaixuan of China, who earned bronze with 38.26 seconds.

In the overall female team classification, China dominated with 4 points, followed by Korea (8 points), Brazil (10 points), Italy (11 points), and France (13 points). These results showcased China’s strength across multiple disciplines, while Korea and Brazil also performed strongly in formation and accuracy events.

Closing (3)

The closing ceremony on July 12, 2024, honored the top female athletes alongside their male counterparts. Special commendations were given, and OR-6 Tatjana Gustke of Germany was nominated for Female Parachuting Athlete of the Year for her outstanding performance. The championship concluded with celebrations of international camaraderie, with CISM President Colonel Nilton Rolim officially closing the event.

The 46th World Military Parachuting Championship underscored the high skill and precision of female athletes, with China and Germany emerging as dominant forces in the competition. The event demonstrated the importance of sportsmanship and international cooperation in military sports, setting the stage for the next edition in 2025.