Push to make skydiving an Olympic sport takes flight on World Skydiving Day

Move over breaking - skydiving officials are ramping up their campaign to get their extreme sport included in the Olympics, and they say Australia is already packed with podium-worthy athletes ready to jump.

As thousands of Australians took to the sky on World Skydiving Day in a bid to set a world record for the most jumps in a single day, the skies above St Kilda came alive with colour and adrenaline. Among the many who leapt from 15,000 feet, the experience was described as an exhilarating rush like no other — but also, surprisingly, peaceful. After the chaos of free fall, many first-time jumpers were struck by the silence and stillness under canopy, drifting quietly above the bay in a moment of calm amid the thrill.

It comes as skydiving officials ramp up their campaign to have the extreme sport included in the Olympics — and they say Australia is already packed with podium-worthy athletes ready to jump.

The Australian Parachute Federation has thrown its support behind a global push for Olympic inclusion, arguing that disciplines like speed skydiving, wingsuiting, canopy piloting and formation jumping demand just as much preparation, skill and athleticism as any other elite sport.

“It was a demonstration sport back in the Seoul Olympics in 1988,” said Australian Parachute Federation CEO Stephen Porter. “But today, we’ve got world champions — including the female world champion in speed skydiving and the male silver medallist — right here in Australia. These are high-performance athletes who train relentlessly and compete at the very highest level, often without funding.”

Porter believes skydiving is the perfect fit for a new generation of Olympic sports that celebrate adrenaline, skill and spectacular visuals.

Thousands of Australians took to the sky on World Skydiving Day in a bid to set a world record for the most jumps in a single day. Picture: Skydiving Australia

“Skydiving is visually incredible, it’s exciting, and it brings people together. There are so many disciplines that would suit Olympic inclusion, from precision landing to dramatic canopy swoops over water. It would be a brilliant way to take Olympic events to rural or regional areas with space and airfields.”

The renewed Olympic push coincides with World Skydiving Day, taking place this Saturday, July 12 — a global celebration of the sport involving over 50 countries. The goal: beat last year’s world record of 30,300 jumps in a single day.

Australia came in second globally in 2024 with 2,700 jumps — and this year, the APF hopes to top that.

“This year we’ve got 34 drop zones involved across the country, from Airlie Beach to St Kilda and all the way over to Rottnest Island,” Porter said. “We’re hoping to not only beat our own national record but also stay firmly on the podium.”

World Skydiving Day was founded by four of the sport’s biggest federations — Australia, the US, Canada and the UK — to highlight the camaraderie and growth of the skydiving community worldwide.

Adrenaline junkies plumment from 15,000 feet over St Kilda. Picture: David Crosling

So what makes skydiving so addictive?

“It’s not just the adrenaline,” Porter explained. “It’s a full-body, full-emotion experience. You get the thrill of free fall, the calm and beauty under canopy, and the joy of doing it with a tight-knit, supportive community.”

While it’s still an adventure sport, Porter says safety in skydiving has come a long way. From advanced training programs to automatic reserve parachutes and high-tech equipment, safety is layered into every part of the experience.

“First-time jumpers go through rigorous checks and are looked after by an ecosystem of support — from their tandem master to ground crew and volunteers.”

For those ready to take the leap, the APF website (apf.com.au) features a map of drop zones across Australia, with contact info for each site.

And if Olympic skydiving becomes a reality?

“We’d know who to call,” Porter said. “We already have our elite athletes — but the chance to represent Australia on the Olympic stage would bring out even more. It would be a dream for so many.”

The Skydiving Australia crew area ready to soar past last year’s World Skydiving Day record. L to R Tony Kellett, Mathew Cleave, Simon Ursin, Louis Trerise and Paul Murphy Chief Master Instructor. Saturday, July 12. 2025. Picture: David Crosling

Three words to describe skydiving?

“Exhilaration. Community. Achievement,” Porter said.

And for those on the fence about trying it?

“You’ll never forget the silence after the parachute opens. It’s peaceful, surreal — and unlike anything else.”

Originally published as Push to make skydiving an Olympic sport takes flight on World Skydiving Day