Alena Netušilová has been named as FAI Gliding Commission (IGC) Champion Pilot of the Year 2023, for winning the 18m class at the 2023 FAI Women's World Gliding Championships in Soria, Spain. This was her second World Champion title, which contributed to the overall victory of the Czech Women's national team.

Girl power

Alena started her career as a glider pilot when she and her classmate noticed a flyer during their high school studies that the local aeroclub was recruiting brave boys for glider pilot training. Together, they decided to sign up and show that gliding was not a sport just for men.

This was in 1986. Alena then started her racing career in 1991, gaining second place at the Women Federal Gliding Championship of the Czechoslovak Republic.

A distinguished career

She has been competing in the European and World Women’s Championships since 1993 and has stood on the podium no less than six times, and twice won the title of World Champion. Alena is one of the few female glider pilots in the world who can achieve excellent placings at competitions alongside male pilots. In total she has flown 4500 hours and over 120,000km in competition.

Alena has a daughter, Sarah, and a son, David, and is a successful businesswoman. She works in an international company she founded and co-owns. When she's not flying, she enjoys rollerblading, running, swimming and persistently (but ineffectively) trying to train her French bulldog, Rosie.

IGC Champion Pilot of the Year

This award was created to recognise the top performance in FAI World Gliding Championships. Each Championship calendar year, the FAI World Champion with the highest score is named the IGC Champion Pilot of the Year and is also awarded the World Soaring Cup.

Alena Netušilová’s results at top women’s gliding competitions

Women's World Gliding Championships

Year	Placing	Class
2003	1	15m
2005	4	15m
2009	4	15m
2011	3	15m
2013	11	15m
2017	2	15m
2020	5	18m
2022	3	18m
2023	1	18m

Women's European Gliding Championships

Year	Placing	Class
1993	8	15m
1995	4	Standard
1997	2	15m
1999	12	15m

Czech National and Czechoslovak Federal Women Gliding Championships    

Year	Placing	Class
1991	2	Club
1992	7	Club
1994	2	Club
1996	1	Club
2001	3	Club
2003	2	Club
2006	2	Combi
2009	1	Combi Open
2010	1	Combi Open
2011	1	Combi Open
2012	1	Combi Open
2013	1	Combi
2014	1	Combi Open
2015	1	Combi Open
2016	2	Combi Open
2017	1	Combi Open