Irena Avbelj

Irena Avbelj, a Slovenian skydiving legend, began her skydiving career in 1986 and quickly rose to prominence by joining the former Yugoslavian National Parachuting Team in 1988. After Slovenia gained independence in 1991, she became a key member of the Slovenian National Team. Avbelj joined the Slovenian Army in 1992, where she served as the commander of the Parachute Training Unit until her retirement in 2011.

Throughout her career, Avbelj accumulated 11,093 jumps and achieved remarkable success in various international competitions. She has competed in numerous world championships, European Championships, Paraski Championships, and CISM Championships, securing first place overall, in style, or in accuracy in over 20 championships. Her notable achievements include winning the Blovdek Award in 2006, the highest sports honor in Slovenia.

Avbelj’s legacy includes multiple gold medals at world and European championships, showcasing her dominance in the sport. Despite facing severe injuries during a competition in 2011, which led to 18 surgeries, her contributions to skydiving remain unparalleled.