A strong Polish team is heading to the World Championships. Denis Dawidziuk, Tomasz Filus, Witold Filus, Arkadiusz Iwański, Mateusz Rękas, and Arkadiusz Sionkowski are among Poland’s elite pilots, having successfully competed in both domestic and international events for years. Many of them regularly secure top spots at prestigious ballooning competitions, demonstrating the high caliber of Polish ballooning.
Their list of successes is impressive, and it would be difficult to enumerate every single achievement. These include Polish championship titles and medals, victories in Polish Cup events, high rankings in the FAI world standings, and outstanding performances at world championships—most notably Tomasz Filus’s title of World Vice-Champion.
Arkadiusz Sionkowski is one of the most talented representatives of the young generation of Polish balloonists. He represents the Mościce Balloon Club and regularly competes in major national and international events. He was a member of the Polish national team at the 25th FAI World Championship in Szeged.
Arkadiusz Iwański is among the elite of Polish competitive ballooning. A member of the national team since 2007, he holds Polish Championship titles from 2011 and 2024 and has achieved numerous victories in the Polish Cup. He has frequently represented Poland on the international stage, securing podium finishes in events such as the European Cup.
Roman Bauta is one of Poland’s leading hot-air balloon pilots and has long been associated with the Leszno Aeroclub. He obtained his balloon pilot license in 2010 and joined the national team just a few years later, becoming a regular representative of Poland at major national and international competitions.
Tomasz Filus is one of the most accomplished contemporary Polish balloon pilots. He is a Polish champion, a multiple World Championship competitor, and a frequent winner of ballooning competitions. He achieved his greatest international success in 2024 by winning the title of FAI World Vice-Champion. Representing the Grudziądz Balloon Club, he has remained among the world's elite in the sport for years.
For many years, Mateusz Rękas has ranked among Poland's top hot-air balloon pilots. He consistently places at the top of national championships, having won, among other honors, a silver medal at the 2018 Polish Hot Air Balloon Championships and second place at the Mountain Ballooning Competition in Krosno. In 2024, he finished in the top ten at the FAI World Championships, achieving one of the best results in the history of the Polish national team. His experience and consistency make him a leading figure in competitive ballooning in Poland.
Denis Dawidziuk is a representative of the young generation of Polish balloonists who quickly established himself among the country's elite. In 2018, he took third place in the Polish Junior Ballooning Championships. He achieved notable success in 2023 by winning the Mountain Ballooning Competition in Krosno, finishing ahead of many more experienced competitors. In 2024, he represented Poland at the FAI World Championships in Szeged, Hungary.
Witold Filus is one of the most recognizable figures in Polish competitive ballooning. He has won the Polish National Championship title six times and secured two silver medals in the European Cup. Over the years, he has also held various organizational and sporting roles, including serving as the competition director for the Polish National Ballooning Championships. He continues to actively participate in top-level competitions, representing Poland on the international stage and supporting the development of younger pilots.
