posted Jun 14th, 2015 - The 8-way fans in Formation Skydiving competition were probably excited when they heard that France is coming back with the best 8-way lineup that national coach Jeremie Rollett has to offer at the moment to challenge the Golden Knights for the next FAI gold medals. The French lineup is identical with the one that posted the highest French 8-way average in history at the Mondial Dubai 2012.

It became even more promising for the 8-way competition in 2015/2016 when the Golden Knights managed to bring back Larry Miller into the active lineup after he had officially retired with two gold medals in 2012 and 2014.

The 8-way battle of 2012 in Dubai was one of the most exciting ones in the history of the sport and took place on the highest performance and scoring level until now. France first posted a new historic record average of 22.5 before the Golden Knights lifted it to 22.9 a few minutes later.

Mondial Dubai 2012		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Total	Avg
Rank	8way Open	N,21,B,5	14,C,13	22,M,20	17,H,16	J,E,12,4	7,19,15	G,K,8,2	O,L,F,P,A	10,11,18	9,Q,D,1	Total	Avg
1	Golden Knights (US)	21	19	27	26	26	18(-1)	20	28	19(-1)	25	229	22.9
2	Aerodyne Maubeuge (FR)	22	19	22(-2)	23	27	20	20	28	19	25	225	22.5

The 8-way fans can look forward to watching a copy of the 2012 battle next year at the World Meet 2016 in the USA, and there are chances that the first showdown might happen later this year or early next year.

The review of the 2012 competition jumps and recollection of the drama at the event is showing what can be expectred when the two 8-way powerhouses will confront each other once again. France had lost the meet in Rounds 3 and 4 and were on eye level all the time. In fact, France won more rounds than the Golden Knights. However, the damage in the two rounds was just too much.

The 8-way competition at the World Meet 2014 in Prostejov was only one for the silver medals, while the Golden Knights walked away with the 8-way Excalibur and took it back home to Raeford. Russia and France were not even close to challenging the US Army's 8-way team.

World Meet 2014		Rd. 1	Rd. 2	Rd. 3	Rd. 4	Rd. 5	Rd. 6	Rd. 7	Rd. 8	Rd. 9	Rd. 10	Rd. 11	T.	Avg
Rank	8-way Open Class	E,3,C,5	F,G,D,21	19,H,2	M,4,1	O,14,A,P	8,J,16	7,11,12	22,20,15	17,G,18	13,B,9	Q,10,N,L	T.	Avg
1	Golden Knights (US)	24	22	15	26	22	21	19	26	21	20	-	216	21.6
2	Barkli (RU)	19	18	13	25	14	16	16	19	18	13	20	191	17.4
3	Venturi (FR)	19	16	14	23	18	13	18	19	15	16	19	190	17.3

The Golden Knights competed with Brian Krause, Sean Sweeney, Justin Blewitt, Josh Coleman, Matt Davidson, Kurt Isenbarger, Michael LaRoche, Larry Miller and videographer Mike Navarro at the World Meet 2012. Seven of the team members (Sean Sweeney, Justin Blewitt, Josh Coleman, Matt Davidson, Kurt Isenbarger, Michael LaRoche, Larry Miller, again with Mike Navarro on camera) defended the gold medals successfully last year.

Six Golden Knights world champions of 2012 and 2014 (Sean Sweeney, Justin Blewitt, Josh Coleman, Matt Davidson, Kurt Isenbarger, Larry Miller) are still in the current lineup. Jeshua Stahler won his own first gold medal in Prostejov 2014, where Andrew Starr was the alternate. Both are in the 2015/2016 lineup and will try to fend off the new French 8-way charge.

France is sending exactly the same lineup of the historic battle in Dubai 2012 into the race for 2016 gold medals in 8-way: Clement Martin Saint Leon, Bruno Perin, Emmanuel Sarrazin, Julien Olek, Guillaume Bernier, Mathieu Bernier, Thomas Perrin Gachadoat, Julien Degen. Only Thomas Perrin Gachadoat continued in 8-way with the 2013/2014 lineup, while all other members are coming back from 8-way retirement. There is not much training scheduled for the French team, but they will surely not compete like retirees...