Tie-Breaks set up dramatic final day at 48th WMC Parachuting
BOĽKOVCE–LUČENEC (SVK) – Day 6 of the 48th CISM World Military Parachuting Championship, held on Friday, 21 August, brought the conclusion of several competitions, while three decisive accuracy battles remain to be settled on Saturday at Boľkovce Airport near Lučenec.
After six days of competition, the medals have been decided across most categories, but tie-breaks will be required in men's individual accuracy, men's team accuracy and women's team accuracy, ensuring further suspense on the final competition day.
The most dramatic situation comes in men's individual accuracy, where Stefan Wiesner of Germany, Bonifác Hájek of the Czech Republic, Saleh Al Abidi of Qatar and Mathias Demmler of Germany completed eight rounds tied at the top with an exceptional total of just six centimetres each.
The four athletes will therefore return for tie-break jumps on Saturday to determine the final medal positions and the 2026 CISM World Military Champion.
The situation represents another major turn in a competition that has changed repeatedly throughout the week. Switzerland's Georges Toth had led after six rounds with only three centimetres, but scores of four and three centimetres in Rounds 7 and 8 moved him to a total of ten. The extraordinary consistency of the four leaders has now set up one of the most anticipated conclusions of the championship.
There is also unfinished business in the men's team accuracy competition. Germany has secured first place with 30 centimetres, but Italy and Slovenia are tied on 41 centimetres, meaning second place must still be determined on the final day. The Czech Republic follows closely on 43.
The women's team accuracy competition is even more finely balanced. Italy and China both completed seven rounds with exactly 99 centimetres, leaving first place still to be decided. The Republic of Korea currently follows on 115, ahead of Poland on 118 and Spain on 133.
The women's individual accuracy competition, meanwhile, has been completed with a Polish one-two. Monika Bekhit finished first with 12 centimetres, ahead of teammate Ewa Wesolowska on 14, while Austria's Sophie Grill took third place with 16. China's Huili Gao followed on 17.
Germany enjoyed further success in the junior accuracy competitions. Mathias Demmler finished at the top of the junior men's classification with only six centimetres after eight rounds, ahead of Austria's Michael Urban on 11 and fellow German Elias Kammer on 13.
In junior women's accuracy, Germany's Zoe Stoll finished first with 24 centimetres, ahead of Austria's Zoe Janko and Algeria's Kaouter Abeddaim.
Germany's strong championship continued in the men's style competition, where Elischa Weber claimed first place with a combined time of 25.06 seconds. Teammate Robin Griesheimer followed closely on 25.45, while the Czech Republic's Petr Chládek completed the top three with 26.32.
In the women's style competition, France's Léocadie Ollivier De Pury secured first place with a combined time of 34.02 seconds, ahead of China's Yue Li on 40.31 and Germany's Zoe Stoll on 43.07.
The junior men's style classification was topped by Germany's Elias Kammer, who recorded 26.40 seconds, with China's Kai Ding second on 27.58 and Germany's Magnus Ostler third on 29.06.
In junior women's style, Zoe Stoll of Germany finished at the top of the classification with a total of 43.07 seconds.
One of the most exciting contests of the championship came in men's formation skydiving, where Belgium and the United States were separated by only three points after six rounds. Belgium finished first with 218 points, narrowly ahead of the United States on 215, while Türkiye completed the podium with 178. Germany followed on 167, ahead of Spain on 152 and the Czech Republic on 149.
In the women's formation competition, the Republic of Korea finished at the top with 92 points, ahead of Brazil on 76 and Spain on 34.
With most of the championship titles now decided, attention turns to Saturday, 22 August, and the remaining accuracy tie-breaks. Four athletes will battle for the men's individual title, Italy and Slovenia will contest second place in the men's team competition, while Italy and China will fight for first place in the women's team event.
Those final jumps will bring the sporting programme of the 48th CISM World Military Parachuting Championship to its conclusion before the Closing Ceremony, following a week of outstanding precision, concentration and teamwork in Slovakia.
(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department – Pictures: Carsten Thiel)
