- By David Lindley
The US Outdoor Free Flight (FF) Team competed in the 2023 World Championships in Moncontour, France, on August 12-20. This was the first FF world championships since the implementation of a new rule that allows for a female fourth team member. The US women proved pivotal with Anat Goldstein and Aimee Raymond posting perfect scores, which had them topping their field in F1A and B, respectively.
The minimum threshold of eight women fliers was met in both events, leading to them earning the title of female world champion and giving the team the honor of listening to the Star Spangled Banner twice at the closing ceremonies. As important, their scores were counted in the overall team score, which resulted in a sixth-place finish in F1A, the highest since 2013, and a team silver medal in F1B for Aimee, Sevak Malkhasyan, Alex Andriukov, and Walt Ghio.
Individually, Ken Bauer finished sixth in F1A, the highest individual placing since Mike McKeever won in 2005. Ghio also flew F1C, maxing out and making it to the final flyoff. He ultimately finished one spot off of the podium.
