Skydiver hits 509kmh in record-breaking Moruya jump

Well, that's precisely what wingsuit champion Mervyn O'Connell did at the 2025 Australian Skydiving Championships in Moruya, breaking the Oceanic record by achieving an average speed of 509.62 kilometres per hour.

"I wanted to have one competition where I hit over 500 kilometres an hour," said Mervyn.

"I've hit better scores at peak times, but I've never been that consistent."

Our region hosted the national competition for the second time, with more than 100 skydivers converging for a week at Skyone in Moruya.

"Even some Aussies who actually live internationally have come over just to represent Australia on their home turf," said Jules McConnel, meet director for the event, who is also an Australian champion and world record-holder.

"On the international scale, they're some of the world's best."

Alongside the wingsuit events, there are also categories for group formations and speed skydiving.

"In each event, they have to go as far as they can, stay in the air for as long as they can, or go as fast as they can," said Jules.

"They're human bullets; we can hear them from the ground. They sound like a rocket."

Skydivers competed over 10 separate jumps, with a cameraperson falling behind them to capture the video footage used in judging.

Besides ringing in hundreds, if not thousands of jumps, competitive skydivers spend as much time as other professional athletes in training, building core strength and stability.

"I work out four times a week with my personal coach," said Mervyn.

"She has me doing aqua classes with many of the Mansfield's grandmothers on a Friday morning because I'm the only man there."

Mervyn also spends much training time strengthening his leg muscles through squats and weights.

"We work on explosive power so I can push off and take the speed of the aircraft down to give me that edge at the start," he said.

And, skydivers like Mervyn put as much effort into developing their concentration as their physical fitness.

"I'm very focused on four key areas: my toes, my glutes and core, my shoulders and then, of course, my head," he said.

"I actually have a rhythm that I focus on those four points and then go back and focus on those four points again to ensure that I'm not letting the skydive fly me."

Without that deep concentration, the jump can get out of control.

"When you hit over about 450 kilometres an hour, no different to your car on the highway or a small car, you'll start vibrating," said Mervyn.

"Some speed wobbles will start kicking in, and it's very easy to get distracted by that."

Though much of the skydiver's focus is on the technical aspects of the jump, Mervyn felt Moruya's scenery made it the perfect location for the meet.

"As we're riding up to height, you're looking out at the alcoves and the bays, and opening the door, there's the fresh sea breeze," he said.

"On the way down, our skydives take about 23 seconds, so you're seeing the earth come up rather quickly. There's not a lot of time to appreciate the scenery."