BRIANNE THOMPSON
WORLD CHAMPION SKYDIVER & INSTRUCTOR
Medals So Far
BRIANNE'S APPROACH
"I believe that students learn best in an environment where they are relaxed—so my philosophy and approach is to make the learning process as fun as I can make it.
My approach to teaching complex and advanced skills is to break them down into a series of simple, manageable, and achievable skills. I coach all types of students in the tunnel and in the air, and I bring my passion and enthusiasm for my sport into my teachings.
Because my passion for coaching also extends to the competition side, I still continue to player-coach teams across multiple disciplines, and I continue to challenge myself at the World Level in Speed Skydiving."
STATS
Nationality
USA
Languages
English
Occupation
Skydiver (Co-Founder / Owner of AXIS Flight School)
Appointments
USPA S&TA (Mountain Region)
Licenses / Ratings
USPA D License; Coach; AFF-I; Tandem-I; IAD; HAPS Certified; IBA Tunnel Instructor LVL 3; IBA Coach Rating for FS, Static, Dynamic, FWE (flying with equipment); USPA PRO rated; Private Pilot (ASEL); USHPA P2 rated.
Number of Jumps
16,000+
Tunnel Time
Thousands of hours since 2003
Emergency Cutaway
Sport: 12
Intentional Cutaway
5
COMPETITION HISTORY
A decorated career in competitive skydiving
Peak Competition Performances
Speed Skydiving
- Highest ISSA Eternal Ranking: #20 (Sep. 2024)
- Highest scoring round: 497.80 km/h / 309.31 mph
- Highest average: 487.75 km/h / 303.07 mph
- Highest total: 3902.00 km/h / 2424.59 mph
- Highest scoring round Mixed Team (Team USA with Niklas Daniel): 493.52 km/h / 306.67 mph
- Highest overall average Mixed Team: 488.74 km/h / 303.69 mph
- Highest National Team Total (Team USA): 11,904.10 km/h / 7,334.73 mph
- Performance Record: Greatest Freefall Speed: 500.9 km/h (311.245 mph)
Vertical Formation Skydiving
- VFS 4-Way Open — Highest average: 17.8 points (USPA National Skydiving Championships 2018)
- VFS 4-Way Open — Single highest scoring round: 24 points (USPA National Skydiving Championships 2019)
Vertical Formation Skydiving Indoor
- VFS 4-way Open Indoor — Highest average: 26.1 points (2019 USIS National Championships)
- VFS 4-way Open Indoor — Single highest scoring round: 46 points (2019 USIS National Championships)
Mixed Formation Skydiving
- MFS 2-Way Open — Highest average: 12.0 points (USPA National Championships 2017)
- MFS 2-Way Open — Single highest scoring round: 17 points (USPA National Championships 2017)
Formation Skydiving
- FS 4-Way Open (Women) — Highest average: 19.8 points (FAI World Skydiving Championships 2008)
- FS 4-Way Open — Competition record, female 4-way formation skydiving: 26 points (USPA National Championships 2009)
Formation Skydiving Indoor
- FS 4-way Open Indoor — Highest average: 18.3 (IBA US National Championships 2017)
- FS 4-way Open Indoor — Single highest scoring round: 24 points (IBA US National Championships 2017)
Major Championships
FAI World Championships and World Cups
- 1st in Speed (National Team), Beaufort NC, USA (2024)
- 2nd in Speed (Mixed Team), Beaufort NC, USA (2024)
- 3rd in Speed (Female), Beaufort NC, USA (2024)
- 2nd in Speed (Female), Prostějov, Czech Republic (2023)
- 3rd in FS 4-way (Female) and 3rd in VFS 4-way, Eloy, USA (2019)
- 4th in VFS 4-way, Saarlouis, Germany (2017)
- 3rd in FS 4-way (Female), Menzelinsk, Russia (2010)
- 2nd in FS 4-way (Female), Maubeuge, France (2008)
- 4th in FS 4-way (Female), Gera, Germany (2006)
ISSA World Cup Series (WCS)
- 2nd in Speed (Open), WCS 2025 Event #2 (Mar.), Skydive AZ, USA
- 1st in Speed (Female), WCS 2025 Event #2 (Mar.), Skydive AZ, USA
- 3rd in Speed (Open), WCS 2024 Event #7 (Dec.), Skydive AZ, USA
- 1st in Speed (Female), WCS 2024 Event #7 (Dec.), Skydive AZ, USA
- 2nd in Speed (Open), WCS 2024 Event #2 (Mar.), Skydive AZ, USA
- 1st in Speed (Female), WCS 2024 Event #2 (Mar.), Skydive AZ, USA
USPA National Skydiving Championships
- 4th in Speed Skydiving Open and best female competitor (2024)
- 3rd in Speed Skydiving Open and best female competitor (2023)
- 12th in Speed Skydiving Open and best female competitor (2022)
- 2nd in VFS 4-Way Open (2019)
- 2nd in VFS 4-Way Open (2018)
- 2nd in Women's Speed Skydiving (Test Event 2017)
- 3rd in VFS 4-way Open (2017)
- 4th in MFS 2-way Open (2017)
- 3rd in VFS 4-way Open (2016)
- 3rd in VFS 4-way Open (2015)
- 6 x Best Female Team, FS 4-way Open (2005-2010)
Other Skydiving Competitions
- 3rd in VFS 4-way Open, USIS National Championships (2019)
- 2nd in VFS 4-way Open, Paraclete XP Indoor Championships (2017)
- 3rd in FS 4-way Open, IBA USA Indoor National Championships (2017)
- 1st in VFS 4-way Open, Battle of the Blades at iFly Seattle (2016)
- 3rd in VFS 2-way Open, Battle of the Blades at iFly Seattle (2016)
RECORDS
World, continental, national, and state records
World Records (Open & Female)
- FAI #20573 G-1 Speed (11 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed - Mixed Team: 491.87 km/h (305.63 mph)
- FAI #20526 G-1 Speed (9 Oct 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed - Team: 491.84 km/h (305.62 mph)
- FAI #20521 G-1 Speed (8 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed - Team: 495 km/h (307.58 mph)
- FAI #20498 G-1 Speed (7 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed - Team: 494.75 km/h (307.42 mph)
- FAI #20452 G-1 Speed (18 Sep 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 487.75 km/h (303.07 mph)
- FAI #20450 G-1 Speed (17 Sep 2024) — Highest Average Speed: 497.8 km/h (309.32 mph)
- FAI #18267 G-2 Speed (23 Sep 2017) — Maximum Vertical Speed w/o Drogue: 384.66 km/h (239.017 mph)
North America Records (Open & Female)
- FAI #20553 G-1 Speed (11 Oct 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed - Team: 488.74 km/h (303.69 mph)
- FAI #20549 G-1 Speed (11 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed - Team: 493.52 km/h (306.66 mph)
- FAI #20527 G-1 Speed (9 Oct 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed - Team: 491.84 km/h (305.62 mph)
- FAI #20522 G-1 Speed (8 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed - Team: 495 km/h (307.58 mph)
- FAI #20452 G-1 Speed (7 Oct 2024) — Highest Average Speed - Team: 494.75 km/h (307.42 mph)
National Records, Female
- USPA #400279 G-1 Speed (18 Sep 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 487.75 km/h (303.07 mph)
- USPA #400282 G-2 Speed (17 Sep 2024) — Maximum Vertical Speed w/o Drogue: 500.9 km/h (311.246 mph)
- USPA #400281 G-1 Speed (17 Sep 2024) — Highest Average Speed: 497.8 km/h (309.32 mph)
- USPA #400128 G-1 Speed (16 Sep 2023) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 473.76 km/h (294.38 mph)
State Records, Female
- Illinois: USPA #400278 G-1 Speed (18 Sep 2024) — Highest Overall Average Speed: 487.75 km/h (303.07 mph)
- Illinois: USPA #400283 G-2 Speed (17 Sep 2024) — Maximum Vertical Speed w/o Drogue: 500.9 km/h (311.246 mph)
- Illinois: USPA #400280 G-1 Speed (17 Sep 2024) — Highest Average Speed: 497.8 km/h (309.32 mph)
- Arizona: USPA #400208 G-2 Speed (20 Apr 2024) — Greatest Freefall Speed: 500.364 km/h (310.913 mph)
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Honors and achievements in the sport
- USPA 216-Hour Freefall Badge (2025)
For completion of 216 hours of freefall in accordance with the Basic Safety and Requirements of the USPA.
- USPA 16,000 Jump Wings (2025)
For completion of 16,000 skydives in accordance with the Basic Safety Requirements of the USPA.
- USPA Regional Achievement Award (2016)
For her work in teaching disabled veterans to skydive through Operation Enduring Warrior; for developing highly customized curricula to instruct and train multiple wounded veterans through to their A licenses, allowing them to enter the sport of skydiving despite many obstacles.
- Chesley H. Judy USPA Safety Award (2015)
In recognition for having, through example, deed, training, or innovation, promoted safety in the sport of skydiving.