All ability competitors join iFLY Australia Indoor Skydiving Championships

The annual Australian Open Indoor Skydiving Championships being contested at the iFLY Downunder attraction in Penrith over the next two days is this year seeing all-ability competitors registered to compete - an Australian first for the sport.

Held over two days - 24th and 25th August - the Championships have an estimated 200 competitors travelling from around the world and across Australia to compete.

iFLY Australia’s first all-ability sponsored athlete Pete Pellegrini is confirmed to compete in a four way team.

Pellegrini explains “I have been indoor skydiving for the last two years.

“I first explored indoor skydiving as a form of therapy following my accident in 2015. I fell in love with the sport and now I am hoping to compete professionally around the world.”

For Pellegrini, who in 2015 was involved in a tragic workplace accident resulting in the loss of his right leg and leaving him wheelchair bound, the Australian Championships will be Pellegrini’s first time competing.

He explains “I lost my right leg when it was crushed by a sea-container and crane. I had my left hip replaced, got metal bar and screws to attach my left femur, and have suffered with PTSD and insomnia since the accident.

“Before the accident I was a fully-fledged adrenaline junkie!”

Turning to indoor skydiving as an alternative form of aqua-therapy, Pellegrini adds “I was unable to do the aqua-therapy because of risk of infection, but indoor skydiving (I believe) worked better in helping me build strength in my muscles. It also helped with the cardio aspect of exercise which I couldn’t gain from other training methods due to my mobility limitations”.

Announced as Australia’s first all-ability sponsored indoor skydiving athlete earlier this year, Pellegrini concludes “I am humbled and extremely proud to be able to push a mandate that promotes including all-abilities in sport and not pushing us away or segregating us from main stream events.

“iFLY Indoor Skydiving approaches it with a no boarders, all-inclusive attitude, which is so rare for people like me; to be included as an equal is so important and what iFLY is doing for this community is indescribably awe-inspiring.

“Indoor skydiving has not only taught me to fly all over again, but has shown me how to LIVE all over again”.

The Australian Open Indoor Skydiving Championships will be held at iFLY Downunder on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th August.

Free for the public to attend, the event is expected to reach around 1million viewers on Facebook Live across the globe.

Further information and registrations will be available at www.ifly.com.au

Images courtesy of Australian Open Indoor Skydiving Championships/iFLY Downunder.