Sometimes it takes a deep fall to get very high. In the case of Jenna Gygi, it was jumping off the plane – an experience that changed her life eight years ago forever. “It immediately pulled my sleeve up my sleeve,” the 30-year-old from Bern recalls in the latest edition of the Swiss women’s sports magazine “Sportswoman”.
Gygi realigns the compass of life, quits her job as a communications planner and focuses fully on skydiving. “I was often bored in the office,” says Gygi, “when it comes to skydiving, it’s just the opposite.”
Lack of acceptance
The eaten beginner quickly turns into an instructor, trains herself as a wingsuit specialist in Australia and quickly wins her first medals in competitions. “I was able to turn my new passion into a job through my will,” she says. “Of course it takes courage, but it was worth it for me.”
At first she was ridiculed for her professional change of heart – especially within the small wingsuit scene. Only their international successes gradually increased the acceptance of their male colleagues.
“Our sport has numerous egos,” says Gygi, “many men have a problem with the fact that a blonde, rather petite woman is better.”
Around the world in a wingsuit
She gets to feel the general rejection again and again as a coach, among other things in the only wingsuit tunnel in the world in Stockholm. “Because this type of man would rather not be trained by a woman. But it has gotten better because we are so successful, ”says Gygi, bringing the Dutch wingsuit professional Jarno Cordia into play.
Four years ago, the two fell in love in a parachute school in Australia and became a couple in the air. From then on, they compete together around the world, shoot videos together and are invited to shows and demos.
Historic opportunity
Jenna Gygi’s turbulent life is also financed to a small extent by the Hollywood dream factory – with an appearance as a wingsuit stuntwoman in the action film “Intercept”, which will be shown on Netflix next year.
But she really wants to stand out in another film when the first wingsuit World Cup takes place in Siberia near Mongolia in mid-August.
With her partner Cordia and her cameraman, she is one of the big favorites on the gold clip. She says that very immodestly, without appearing arrogant: “I want victory, everything else would disappoint me.”
Under the sign of the five rings: Beach volleyball star Anouk Vergé-Depré in focus shortly before the Olympics.
The SPORTSWOMAN is the first and only magazine in Switzerland that is fully dedicated to the female sports world. Founded by editor-in-chief Fabian Ruch, art director Leander Strupler and sponsorship expert Roman Grünig. Three men who see more than just a new niche in the market and who promote feminine diversity with a dozen renowned authors. The focus is on interviews, reports, portraits and sections from top-class sport, popular sport and Paralympic sport, offering a platform not only to athletes, but also to trainers, functionaries and women from the world of media sports. The approximately 100-page glossy booklet appeared for the third time at the beginning of June and is available at the kiosk. A subscription for four issues a year costs 30 francs, and Swiss women’s sport can be promoted in the patrons’ club. Athlete Mujinga Kambundji kicked off the title page, followed by ex-tennis superstar Martina Hingis. Just in time for the summer games, beach volleyball medal hope Anouk Vergé-Dépré shines from the cover of the third issue – and talks about her dream of being in Tokyo in the Olympic Special by SPORTLERIN.
Under the sign of the five rings: Beach volleyball star Anouk Vergé-Depré in focus shortly before the Olympics.
The SPORTSWOMAN is the first and only magazine in Switzerland that is fully dedicated to the female sports world. Founded by editor-in-chief Fabian Ruch, art director Leander Strupler and sponsorship expert Roman Grünig. Three men who see more than just a new niche in the market and who promote feminine diversity with a dozen renowned authors. The focus is on interviews, reports, portraits and sections from top-class sport, popular sport and Paralympic sport, offering a platform not only to athletes, but also to trainers, functionaries and women from the world of media sports. The approximately 100-page glossy booklet appeared for the third time at the beginning of June and is available at the kiosk. A subscription for four issues a year costs 30 francs, and Swiss women’s sport can be promoted in the patrons’ club. Athlete Mujinga Kambundji kicked off the title page, followed by ex-tennis superstar Martina Hingis. Just in time for the summer games, beach volleyball medal hope Anouk Vergé-Dépré shines from the cover of the third issue – and talks about her dream of being in Tokyo in the Olympic Special by SPORTLERIN.