Athletes

Sebastian Kawa

POL
Date of birth 
15 Nov 1972
Sports 
Gliding

In 2024, Sebastian Kawa was awarded the FAI Gold Air Medal, FAI’s highest accolade, "for his dozens of triumphs in international championships, his significant contribution to aviation promotion through publications and televised programs, and his admirable engagement in humanitarian aid during the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine."

He is one of the most accomplished glider pilots in the sport. A multiple FAI World Champion and FAI European Champion, he has excelled in all classes of gliding since the turn of the century.

However, his competitive roots lie not in the air but in the sea. From the age of 8 to 18 he sailed competitively at national and international level for Poland.

He took up gliding in 1988 aged 16 and within two years had clocked up 200 hours, as well as reached milestones like completing a 3,000m gain-in-altitude and a 300km triangle flight.

After winning the Polish Junior Gliding Nationals in 1992 he gradually climbed the ladder of elite glider racing. His first international podium came with a Bronze medal at the FAI World Gliding Championships in 1999. He won his first FAI World Championship in 2003.

In 2005 he was ranked number 1 in the world for the first time. He spent the next decade at number one or number two in the world rankings, and dominated the elite level of competition.

In 2012 he won his fourth FAI World Championship gold medal and became the most successful competition pilot in history. He has continued to win gold medals and is now the most decorated glider pilot in history.

In 2011 he published his autobiography, a Sky Full of Heat, in Polish and English. An active coach, teacher and trainer for all levels of pilot, Kawa revealed in his autobiography that it takes, "10 years of maximum concentration and effort to get to fly against the masters". 

As well as competing around the world, he has pushed the boundaries of gliding flight with high-altitude flights above Aconcagua (6,962m) in Argentina, and in the Everest region of Nepal.

A qualified medical doctor he is married with two children.

Career Highlights

1999: FAI World Gliding Championships (World Class), Bronze

2003: FAI World Gliding Championships (World Class), Gold

2004: FAI World Gliding Championships (Club Class), Gold

2005: FAI European Gliding Championships (Club), Gold

2005: FAI World GP Gliding Championship (15m), Gold

2006: FAI World Gliding Championships (Club Class), Gold

2007: FAI European Gliding Championships (Club), Gold

2007: FAI World Sailplane Grand Prix World Final (15m), Gold

2010: FAI World Sailplane Grand Prix World Final (15m), Gold

2010: FAI World Gliding Championships (Standard), Gold

2011: FAI European Gliding Championships (Standard), Gold

2012: FAI World Gliding Championships (15m), Gold

2013: FAI World Gliding Championships (Standard), Gold

2013: FAI European Gliding Championships (18m), Gold

2013: FAI European Gliding Championships (Standard), Gold

2014: FAI World Gliding Championships (15m), Gold

2015: FAI European Gliding Championships (18m), Gold

2015: FAI World Air Games (Gold)

2017: FAI European Gliding Championships (20m), Gold

2017: FAI World Gliding Championships (13,5m & 15m), Gold

2018: FAI World Gliding Championships (15m), Gold

2018: FAI World Gliding Championships (Two Seater), Gold

2018: FAI Sailplane Grand Prix World Final (15m), Gold

2019: FAI European Gliding Championships (15m & 18m), Gold

2021: FAI World Gliding Championships (15m), Gold

2021: FAI Sailplane Grand Prix World Final, Gold

2022: FAI European Gliding Championships (15m), Gold

2023: FAI European Gliding Championships (18m), Bronze

2023: FAI World Gliding Championships (15m), Gold