He was considered an immense talent in his discipline. Timo Leonetti, a young paraglider, died this Friday during the French Championships in his discipline which took place in Plaine Joux (Haute-Savoie), according to our colleagues from Corse-Matin.
The victim was transported to Annecy hospital in an absolute emergency on Thursday afternoon, said firefighters from Codis (Operational Fire and Rescue Center) in Haute-Savoie. Supported by a medical team, she was in critical condition, the French Free Flight Federation announced on social networks.
At only 22 years old, he already had an impressive track record. Winner of the World
“His sympathy and enthusiasm”
Timo was also the first athlete to have completed flights of more than 500 km on two continents (569 km in Brazil in 2021, 562 km in South Africa in 2023). More recently, he distinguished himself last month on his homeland, in Corsica, where he set the record for the longest flight ever made on the island, with 193 km covered in 8 hours.
Since the announcement of his death, expressions of affection have multiplied. “His passion and dedication to paragliding was unmatched, and he was respected and admired by his peers for his expertise and sportsmanship. Timo leaves us leaving behind an immense void, both with his family, his friends, and the paragliding community,” wrote the French Free Flight Federation (FFVL) on its social networks.
“Timo was respected and admired by all pilots in the world, loved in Corsica for his sympathy and enthusiasm (…) and his memory will accompany us in each of our flights. He leaves behind him an immense void,” responded the Futtiventu paragliding club, where he was registered, in Corte.
