‘First competition where the nerves were high’, says world champ Kyra Poh after World Indoor Skydiving Championships medal haul

SINGAPORE: Reigning world indoor skydiving champion Kyra Poh was especially nervous ahead of her attempt in the solo freestyle open category at the recent World Indoor Skydiving Championships in Slovakia.

It was the last title she needed to secure, in order to become the first athlete in the sport to win in the category across the major competitions, she told CNA’s Singapore Tonight on Friday (Apr 28).

The 21-year-old won gold in last year’s World Cup of Indoor Skydiving. However, the World Indoor Skydiving Championships title had eluded her, as she picked up a silver medal at the last edition in 2019.

She emerged victorious this time, and clinched her 14th gold in the solo freestyle open discipline since picking up the sport at 10 years old.

“This was actually the last title that I had to win, in order to be the first indoor skydiving athlete to win all of the freestyle titles. So I was definitely really happy about that,” said Kyra.

“This was the first competition where the nerves were high. It was definitely much more challenging, but I was able to control (it) under pressure and I think I was really happy about it.”

Kyra was part of a Singapore team which brought home two golds, a silver and a bronze from the competition, which saw over 250 athletes from 25 countries compete across five categories.

The tournament, which took place from Apr 19 to 22, also saw 15-year-old Isabelle Koh make her World Indoor Skydiving Championships debut.

She finished fourth in the solo freestyle junior category, bouncing back from a spine surgery that had forced her to change her flying style due to her affected flexibility. 

Isabelle told CNA’s Singapore Tonight on Friday that she had been diagnosed with scoliosis, a condition that affects the