Gliding World Champions
Gliding World Championships have been held - normally every 2 years, except for the war years - since 1937. World Championships for Juniors (up to 25 years of age) were introduced in 1999, and Women's World Championships were held for the first time in 2001. More recently, in 2005, the World Sailplane Grand Prix was started. The following tables list the world champions in each of the categories, together with the following information: the country of the pilot, the championships class, the glider type, the location of the championship event and the year. The lists are in reverse chronological order; in the case of the unrestricted category, a separate list in alphabetical order of the pilots' name is also provided.
World Gliding Champions in the unrestricted category - in reverse chronological order
| Name |
Country |
Class |
Glider |
Location |
Year |
| Sommer, Michael |
Germany |
Open |
ASW 22 ble |
Lüsse, Germany |
2008 |
| Gulyas, György |
Hungary
| 15-Metre |
Ventus 2a |
Lüsse, Germany |
2008 |
| Darroze, Olivier |
France |
18-Metre |
ASG 29 |
Lüsse, Germany |
2008 |
| Couture, Laurent |
France |
World |
PW5 |
Rieti, Italy |
2008
|
| Sturm, Matthias |
Germany |
Club |
Hornet |
Rieti, Italy |
2008 |
| Buchthal, Michael |
Germany |
Standard |
Discus IIa |
Rieti, Italy |
2008 |
| Sommer, Michael |
Germany |
Open |
ASW 22 ble |
Eskilstuna, Sweden |
2006 |
| Jones, Phil |
Great Britain |
18-Metre |
Ventus 2cxT |
Eskilstuna, Sweden |
2006 |
| Centka, Janusz |
Poland |
15-Metre |
Diana 2 |
Eskilstuna, Sweden |
2006 |
| Wells, Leigh |
Great Britain |
Standard |
LS 8 |
Eskilstuna, Sweden |
2006 |
| Kawa, Sebastian |
Poland |
Club |
Jantar 3B |
Vinon, France |
2006 |
| Ruch, Christophe |
France |
World |
PW 5 |
Vinon, France |
2006 |
| Kawa, Sebastian |
Poland |
Club |
SZD 48 |
Elverum, Norway |
2004 |
| Karow, Holger |
Germany |
Open |
Nimbus 4 |
Leszno, Poland |
2003 |
| Janowitsch, Wolfgang |
Austria |
18-Metre |
Ventus 2cxT |
Leszno, Poland |
2003 |
| Coutts, John |
New Zealand |
15-Metre |
ASW 27b |
Leszno, Poland |
2003 |
| Davis, Andrew |
Great Britain |
Standard |
Discus 2a |
Leszno, Poland |
2003 |
| Kawa, Sebastian |
Poland |
World |
PW 5 |
Nitra, Slovak Republic |
2003 |
| Suchanek, Tomas |
Czech Republic |
Club |
Std. Cirrus |
Musbach, Germany |
2002 |
| Goudriaan, Oscar |
South Africa |
Open |
ASW 22 |
Mafikeng, South Africa |
2001 |
| Meuser, Werner |
Germany |
15-Metre |
Ventus 2ax |
Mafikeng, South Africa |
2001 |
| Aboulin, Laurent |
France |
Standard |
Discus 2a |
Mafikeng, South Africa |
2001 |
| Masson, Peter |
Great Britain |
Club |
DG 101 |
Gawler, Australia |
2001 |
| Darroze, Olivier |
France |
World |
PW 5 |
Lillo, Spain |
2001 |
| Jones, Steven |
Great Britain |
18-Metre |
Ventus C-18 |
Lillo, Spain |
2001 |
| Karow, Holger |
Germany |
Open |
Nimbus 4 |
Bayreuth, Germany |
1999 |
| Galetto, Giorgio |
Italy |
15-Metre |
Ventus 2a |
Bayreuth, Germany |
1999 |
| Caillard, Jean-Marc |
France |
Standard |
Discus 2a |
Bayreuth, Germany |
1999 |
| Henry, Julien |
France |
World |
PW 5 |
Leszno, Poland |
1999 |
| Lherm, Gérard |
France |
Open |
ASW 22 |
Saint-Auban, France |
1997 |
| Meuser, Werner |
Germany |
15-Metre |
Ventus 2a |
Saint-Auban, France |
1997 |
| Caillard, Jean-Marc |
France |
Standard |
LS 8a |
Saint-Auban, France |
1997 |
| Hoyeau, Frédéric |
France |
World |
PW 5 |
Inönü, Turkey |
1997 |
| Lynskey, Ray |
New Zealand |
Open |
Nimbus 4 |
Omarama, New Zealand |
1995 |
| Napoleon, Eric |
France |
15-Metre |
Ventus 2b |
Omarama, New Zealand |
1995 |
| Kuittinen, Markku |
Finland |
Standard |
Discus |
Omarama, New Zealand |
1995 |
| Centka, Janusz |
Poland |
Open |
ASW 22b |
Borlänge, Sweden |
1993 |
| Gérbaud, Gilbert |
France |
15-Metre |
LS 6b |
Borlänge, Sweden |
1993 |
| Napoléon, Eric |
France |
15-Metre |
LS 6b |
Borlänge, Sweden |
1993 |
| Davis, Andrew |
Great Britain |
Standard |
Discus |
Borlänge, Sweden |
1993 |
| Centka, Janusz |
Poland |
Open |
ASW 22b |
Uvalde, USA |
1991 |
| Edwards, Brad |
Australia |
15-Metre |
LS 6b |
Uvalde, USA |
1991 |
| Selen, Baer |
Netherlands |
Standard |
Discus |
Uvalde, USA |
1991 |
| Lopitaux, Jean-Claude |
France |
Open |
ASW 22b |
Wiener Neustadt, Austria |
1989 |
| Aboulin, Jacques |
France |
Standard |
Discus |
Wiener Neustadt, Austria |
1989 |
| Gantenbrink, Bruno |
W. Germany |
15-Metre |
Ventus C |
Wiener Neustadt, Austria |
1989 |
| Renner, Ingo |
Australia |
Open |
Nimbus 3 |
Benalla, Australia |
1987 |
| Kuittinen, Markku |
Finland |
Standard |
Discus a |
Benalla, Australia |
1987 |
| Spreckley, Brian |
Great Britain |
15-Metre |
LS 6 |
Benalla, Australia |
1987 |
| Renner, Ingo |
Australia |
Open |
Nimbus 3 |
Rieti, Italy |
1985 |
| Brigliadori, Leonardo |
Italy |
Standard |
Discus |
Rieti, Italy |
1985 |
| Jacobs, Doug |
USA |
15-Metre |
LS 6 |
Rieti, Italy |
1985 |
| Renner, Ingo |
Australia |
Open |
Nimbus 3 |
Hobbs, USA |
1983 |
| Oye, Stig |
Denmark |
Standard |
LS 4 |
Hobbs, USA |
1983 |
| Musters, Kees |
Netherlands |
15-Metre |
Ventus a |
Hobbs, USA |
1983 |
| Lee, George |
Great Britain |
Open |
Nimbus 3 |
Paderborn, Germany |
1981 |
| Schroeder, Marc |
France |
Standard |
LS 4 |
Paderborn, Germany |
1981 |
| Ax, Göran |
Sweden |
15-Metre |
ASW 20 |
Paderborn, Germany |
1981 |
| Lee, George |
Great Britain |
Open |
ASW 17 |
Chateauroux, France |
1978 |
| Selen, Baer |
Netherlands |
Standard |
ASW 19 |
Chateauroux, France |
1978 |
| Reichmann, Helmut |
W. Germany |
15-Metre |
SB 11 |
Chateauroux, France |
1978 |
| Lee, George |
Great Britain |
Open |
ASW 17 |
Räyskälä, Finland |
1976 |
| Renner, Ingo |
Australia |
Standard |
PIK 20b |
Räyskälä, Finland |
1976 |
| Moffat, George |
USA |
Open |
Nimbus 2 |
Waikerie, Australia |
1974 |
| Reichmann, Helmut |
W. Germany |
Standard |
LS 2 |
Waikerie, Australia |
1974 |
| Ax, Göran |
Sweden |
Open |
Nimbus 2 |
Vrsac, Yugoslavia |
1972 |
| Wroblewski, Jan |
Poland |
Standard |
Orion |
Vrsac, Yugoslavia |
1972 |
| Moffat, George |
USA |
Open |
Nimbus |
Marfa, USA |
1970 |
| Reichmann, Helmut |
W. Germany |
Standard |
LS 1 |
Marfa, USA |
1970 |
| Wodl, Harro |
Austria |
Open |
Cirrus |
Leszno, Poland |
1968 |
| Smith, Andrew J. |
USA |
Standard |
Elfe S3 |
Leszno, Poland |
1968 |
| Wroblewski, Jan |
Poland |
Open |
Foka 4 |
South Cerney, England |
1965 |
| Henry, François |
France |
Standard |
Edelweiss |
South Cerney, England |
1965 |
| Makula, Edward |
Poland |
Open |
Zefir 2 |
Junin, Argentina |
1963 |
| Huth, Heinz |
W. Germany |
Standard |
Ka 6CR |
Junin, Argentina |
1963 |
| Hossinger, Rudolfo |
Argentina |
Open |
Skylark 3 |
Cologne, Germany |
1960 |
| Huth, Heinz |
W. Germany |
Standard |
Ka 6BR |
Cologne, Germany |
1960 |
| Haase, Ernst |
W. Germany |
Open |
HKS 3 |
Leszno, Poland |
1958 |
| Witek, Adam |
Poland |
Standard |
Mucha std. |
Leszno, Poland |
1958 |
| MacCready, Paul |
USA |
Open |
Breguet 901S |
Saint Yan, France |
1956 |
| Goodhart, N., Foster, F. |
Great Britain |
2-Place |
Slingsby Eagle |
Saint Yan, France |
1956 |
| Pierre, Gérard |
France |
Open |
Breguet 901 |
Camphill, England |
1954 |
| Rain, Z., Komac, B: |
Yugoslavia |
2-Place |
Kosava |
Camphill, England |
1954 |
| Wills, Phillip |
Great Britain |
Open |
Slingsby Sky |
Madrid, Spain |
1952 |
| Juez, Luis, Ara |
Spain |
2-Place |
Kranich II |
Madrid, Spain |
1952 |
| Nilsson, Billy |
Sweden |
Open |
Weihe |
Örebrö, Sweden |
1950 |
| Persson, Per-Axel |
Sweden |
Open |
Weihe |
Samedan, Switzerland |
1948 |
| Dittmar, Heini |
Germany |
Open |
São Paulo |
Wasserkuppe, Germany |
1937 |
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Gliding World Champions in the unrestricted category - ordered by names
| Name |
Country |
Class |
Glider |
Location |
Year |
| Aboulin, Jacques |
France |
Standard |
Discus |
Wiener Neustadt, Austria |
1989 |
| Aboulin, Laurent |
France |
Standard |
Discus 2a |
Mafikeng, South Africa |
2001 |
| Ax, Göran |
Sweden |
15-Metre |
ASW 20 |
Paderborn, Germany |
1981 |
| Ax, Göran |
Sweden |
Open |
Nimbus 2 |
Vrsac, Yugoslavia |
1972 |
| Brigliadori, Leonardo |
Italy |
Standard |
Discus |
Rieti, Italy |
1985 |
| Buchthal, Michael |
Germany |
Standard |
Discus IIa |
Rieti, Italy |
2008 |
| Caillard, Jean-Marc |
France |
Standard |
Discus 2a |
Bayreuth, Germany |
1999 |
| Caillard, Jean-Marc |
France |
Standard |
LS 8a |
Saint-Auban, France |
1997 |
| Centka, Janusz |
Poland |
15-Metre |
Diana 2 |
Eskilstuna, Sweden |
2006 |
| Centka, Janusz |
Poland |
Open |
ASW 22b |
Borlänge, Sweden |
1993 |
| Centka, Janusz |
Poland |
Open |
ASW 22b |
Uvalde, USA |
1991 |
| Coutts, John |
New Zealand |
15-Metre |
ASW 27b |
Leszno, Poland |
2003 |
| Couture, Laurent |
France |
World |
PW5 |
Rieti, Italy |
2008
|
| Darroze, Olivier |
France |
World |
PW 5 |
Lillo, Spain |
2001 |
| Darroze, Olivier |
France |
18-Metre |
ASG 29 |
Lüsse, Germany |
2008 |
| Davis, Andrew |
Great Britain |
Standard |
Discus 2a |
Leszno, Poland |
2003 |
| Davis, Andrew |
Great Britain |
Standard |
Discus |
Borlänge, Sweden |
1993 |
| Dittmar, Heini |
Germany |
Open |
São Paulo |
Wasserkuppe, Germany |
1937 |
| Edwards, Brad |
Australia |
15-Metre |
LS 6b |
Uvalde, USA |
1991 |
| Galetto, Giorgio |
Italy |
15-Metre |
Ventus 2a |
Bayreuth, Germany |
1999 |
| Gantenbrink, Bruno |
W. Germany |
15-Metre |
Ventus C |
Wiener Neustadt, Austria |
1989 |
| Gérbaud, Gilbert |
France |
15-Metre |
LS 6 |
Borlänge, Sweden |
1993 |
| Goodhart, N., Foster, F. |
Great Britain |
2-Place |
Slingsby Eagle |
Saint Yan, France |
1956 |
| Goudriaan, Oscar |
South Africa |
Open |
ASW 22 |
Mafikeng, South Africa |
2001 |
| Gulyas, György |
Hungary
| 15-Metre |
Ventus 2a |
Lüsse, Germany |
2008 |
| Haase, Ernst |
W. Germany |
Open |
HKS 3 |
Leszno, Poland |
1958 |
| Henry, François |
France |
Standard |
Edelweiss |
South Cerney, England |
1965 |
| Henry, Julien |
France |
World |
PW 5 |
Leszno, Poland |
1999 |
| Hossinger, Rudolfo |
Argentina |
Open |
Skylark 3 |
Cologne, Germany |
1960 |
| Hoyeau, Frédéric |
France |
World |
PW 5 |
Inönü, Turkey |
1997 |
| Huth, Heinz |
W. Germany |
Standard |
Ka 6CR |
Junin, Argentina |
1963 |
| Huth, Heinz |
W. Germany |
Standard |
Ka 6BR |
Cologne, Germany |
1960 |
| Jacobs, Doug |
USA |
15-Metre |
LS 6 |
Rieti, Italy |
1985 |
| Janowitsch, Wolfgang |
Austria |
18-Metre |
Ventus 2cxT |
Leszno, Poland |
2003 |
| Jones, Phil |
Great Britain |
18-Metre |
Ventus 2cxT |
Eskilstuna, Sweden |
2006 |
| Jones, Steven |
Great Britain |
18-Metre |
Ventus C-18 |
Lillo, Spain |
2001 |
| Juez, Luis, Ara |
Spain |
2-Place |
Kranich II |
Madrid, Spain |
1952 |
| Karow, Holger |
Germany |
Open |
Nimbus 4 |
Leszno, Poland |
2003 |
| Karow, Holger |
Germany |
Open |
Nimbus 4 |
Bayreuth, Germany |
1999 |
| Kawa, Sebastian |
Poland |
Club |
Jantar 3B |
Vinon, France |
2006 |
| Kawa, Sebastian |
Poland |
Club |
SZD 48 |
Elverum, Norway |
2004 |
| Kawa, Sebastian |
Poland |
World |
PW 5 |
Nitra, Slovak Republic |
2003 |
| Kuittinen, Markku |
Finland |
Standard |
Discus |
Omarama, New Zealand |
1995 |
| Kuittinen, Markku |
Finland |
Standard |
Discus a |
Benalla, Australia |
1987 |
| Lee, George |
Great Britain |
Open |
Nimbus 3 |
Paderborn, Germany |
1981 |
| Lee, George |
Great Britain |
Open |
ASW 17 |
Chateauroux, France |
1978 |
| Lee, George |
Great Britain |
Open |
ASW 17 |
Räyskälä, Finland |
1976 |
| Lherm, Gérard |
France |
Open |
ASW 22 |
Saint-Auban, France |
1997 |
| Lopitaux, Jean-Claude |
France |
Open |
ASW 22b |
Wiener Neustadt, Austria |
1989 |
| Lynskey, Ray |
New Zealand |
Open |
Nimbus 4 |
Omarama, New Zealand |
1995 |
| MacCready, Paul |
USA |
Open |
Breguet 901S |
Saint Yan, France |
1956 |
| Makula, Edward |
Poland |
Open |
Zefir 2 |
Junin, Argentina |
1963 |
| Masson, Peter |
Great Britain |
Club |
DG 101 |
Gawler, Australia |
2001 |
| Meuser, Werner |
Germany |
15-Metre |
Ventus 2ax |
Mafikeng, South Africa |
2001 |
| Meuser, Werner |
Germany |
15-Metre |
Ventus 2a |
Saint-Auban, France |
1997 |
| Moffat, George |
USA |
Open |
Nimbus 2 |
Waikerie, Australia |
1974 |
| Moffat, George |
USA |
Open |
Nimbus |
Marfa, USA |
1970 |
| Musters, Kees |
Netherlands |
15-Metre |
Ventus a |
Hobbs, USA |
1983 |
| Napoléon, Eric |
France |
15-Metre |
Ventus 2b |
Omarama, New Zealand |
1995 |
| Napoléon, Eric |
France |
15-Metre |
LS 6b |
Borlänge, Sweden |
1993 |
| Nilsson, Billy |
Sweden |
Open |
Weihe |
Örebrö, Sweden |
1950 |
| Oye, Stig |
Denmark |
Standard |
LS 4 |
Hobbs, USA |
1983 |
| Persson, Per-Axel |
Sweden |
Open |
Weihe |
Samedan, Switzerland |
1948 |
| Pierre, Gérard |
France |
Open |
Breguet 901 |
Camphill, England |
1954 |
| Rain, Z., Komac, B: |
Yugoslavia |
2-Place |
Kosava |
Camphill, England |
1954 |
| Reichmann, Helmut |
W. Germany |
15-Metre |
SB 11 |
Chateauroux, France |
1978 |
| Reichmann, Helmut |
W. Germany |
Standard |
LS 2 |
Waikerie, Australia |
1974 |
| Reichmann, Helmut |
W. Germany |
Standard |
LS 1 |
Marfa, USA |
1970 |
| Renner, Ingo |
Australia |
Open |
Nimbus 3 |
Benalla, Australia |
1987 |
| Renner, Ingo |
Australia |
Open |
Nimbus 3 |
Rieti, Italy |
1985 |
| Renner, Ingo |
Australia |
Open |
Nimbus 3 |
Hobbs, USA |
1983 |
| Renner, Ingo |
Australia |
Standard |
PIK 20b |
Räyskälä, Finland |
1976 |
| Ruch, Christophe |
France |
World |
PW 5 |
Vinon, France |
2006 |
| Schroeder, Marc |
France |
Standard |
LS 4 |
Paderborn, Germany |
1981 |
| Selen, Baer |
Netherlands |
Standard |
Discus |
Uvalde, USA |
1991 |
| Selen, Baer |
Netherlands |
Standard |
ASW 19 |
Chateauroux, France |
1978 |
| Smith, Andrew J. |
USA |
Standard |
Elfe S3 |
Leszno, Poland |
1968 |
| Sommer, Michael |
Germany |
Open |
ASW 22 ble |
Eskilstuna, Sweden |
2006 |
| Sommer, Michael |
Germany |
Open |
ASW 22 ble |
Lüsse, Germany |
2008 |
| Spreckley, Brian |
Great Britain |
15-Metre |
LS 6 |
Benalla, Australia |
1987 |
| Sturm, Matthias |
Germany |
Club |
Hornet |
Rieti, Italy |
2008 |
| Suchanek, Tomas |
Czech Republic |
Club |
Std. Cirrus |
Musbach, Germany |
2002 |
| Wells, Leigh |
Great Britain |
Standard |
LS 8 |
Eskilstuna, Sweden |
2006 |
| Wills, Phillip |
Great Britain |
Open |
Slingsby Sky |
Madrid, Spain |
1952 |
| Witek, Adam |
Poland |
Standard |
Mucha std. |
Leszno, Poland |
1958 |
| Wodl, Harro |
Austria |
Open |
Cirrus |
Leszno, Poland |
1968 |
| Wroblewski, Jan |
Poland |
Standard |
Orion |
Vrsac, Yugoslavia |
1972 |
| Wroblewski, Jan |
Poland |
Open |
Foka 4 |
South Cerney, England |
1965 |
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Women's World Glidng Champions
| Name |
Country |
Class |
Glider |
Location |
Year |
| Kehlman, Sarah |
Great Britain |
Standard |
ASW 28 |
Romorantin, France |
2007 |
| Senne, Kathrin |
Germany |
15-Metre |
Ventus 2a |
Romorantin, France |
2007 |
| Spreckley, Gill |
Great Britain |
Club |
LS 1f |
Romorantin, France |
2007 |
| Schmelz, Mette |
Denmark |
15-Metre |
ASW 27b |
Klix, Germany |
2005 |
| Veprekova, Jana |
Czech Republic |
Standard |
LS 8b |
Klix, Germany |
2005 |
| Vokrinkova, Hana |
Czech Republic |
Club |
std. Cirrus |
Klix, Germany |
2005 |
| Netusilova, Alena |
Czech Republic |
15-Metre |
Ventus 2a |
Jihlava, Czech Republic |
2003 |
| Grote, Christine |
Germany |
Club |
std. Libelle |
Jihlava, Czech Republic |
2003 |
| Schaich, Cornelia |
Germany |
Standard |
LS 8b |
Jihlava, Czech Republic |
2003 |
| Spreckley, Gill |
Great Britain |
15-Metre |
Ventus 2a |
Pociunai, Lithuania |
2001 |
| Kehlman, Sarah |
Great Britain |
Standard |
ASW 24 |
Pociunai, Lithuania |
2001 |
| Sviridova, Tamara |
Russia |
Club |
Jantar std. |
Pociunai, Lithuania |
2001 |
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Juniors' World Gliding Champions
| Name |
Country |
Class |
Glider |
Location |
Year |
| Walbrou, Kilian |
France |
Club |
std. Cirrus |
Rieti, Italy |
2007 |
| Gai, Patrick |
Germany |
Standard |
LS 8 |
Rieti, Italy |
2007 |
| Parker, Mark |
Great Britain |
Standard |
LS 8 |
Husbands Bosworth, UK |
2005 |
| Nacke, Christoph |
Germany |
Club |
LS 1d |
Husbands Bosworth, UK |
2005 |
| Streit, Michael |
Germany |
Club |
ASW 19 |
Nitra, Slovak Republic |
2003 |
| Hood, Jez |
Great Britain |
Standard |
LS 8 |
Nitra, Slovak Republic |
2003 |
| Rebbeck, Jay |
Great Britain |
Standard |
LS 8 |
Issoudun, France |
2001 |
| Toft, Peter |
Denmark |
Club |
std. Libelle |
Issoudun, France |
2001 |
| Stahl, Günther |
Germany |
Standard |
Discus 2 |
Terlet, Netherlands |
1999 |
| Scheiffart, Robert |
Germany |
Club |
ASW 19 |
Terlet, Netherlands |
1999 |
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Gliding World Grand Prix Champions
| Name
| Country
| Class
| Glider
| Location
| Year
|
| Kawa, Sebastian |
Poland |
15-Metre |
Diana 2 |
Saint-Auban, France |
2005 |
| Kawa, Sebastian |
Poland |
15-Metre |
Diana 2 |
Omarama, New Zealand |
2007 |
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