Ivone Silva wins junior paragliding world championship

Ivone Silva, a paraglider from Canhas, Madeira, has become the junior world champion at the 2nd FAI Junior World Championship. The competition took place in Krusevo, North Macedonia, between August 22 and 30.

Silva began flying solo at age 18 after growing up watching paragliders from her window. Her rapid ascent in the sport included joining the Portuguese Free Flight Federation's Flight Academy in 2025. After only two years of official competition, she secured the world title and expressed a desire to use her achievement to inspire more young people to take up paragliding in Portugal.