Most people find balance between work and hobbies. Amelia Dunaway, a Murrieta-based attorney and professional athlete, found it between law and the sky.
Last month, Dunaway made history at the FAI World Cup of Wingsuit Flying in the Czech Republic, where she not only represented the United States but also won gold in the women’s category during the sport’s first-ever official women’s subclass — helping Team USA secure silver overall.
For Dunaway, the moment was more than a personal victory. It was a milestone for both her sport and the women who dream of following the same flight path.
“More women on course means more women on podiums,” Dunaway said in a recent PR. “And that momentum is just getting started.”
From courtrooms to cloudline
As a practicing attorney and an elite skydiver, Dunaway credits her ability to succeed in both worlds to what she calls “ruthless efficiency” — and the data-driven, analytical mindset that powers both her legal work and her competition flying.
“I started skydiving in 2019 and began competing just a few years later,” she said in an interview with Valley News. “It’s all about precision — just like in law. You make thousands of micro-adjustments in real time, and you can’t afford to get distracted.”
Her sport, known as Wingsuit Performance Flying, demands extraordinary physical and mental endurance. Pilots leap from planes more than 10,000 feet above ground, wearing specially designed aerodynamic suits that allow them to glide at speeds exceeding 150 mph.
The competitions are based not on style or tricks, but on data — measured GPS metrics for speed, distance, and time during flight.
“It’s not a visually flashy sport,” Dunaway explained. “It’s about performance numbers — the fastest, farthest, and longest flights. You’re competing against physics, and sometimes against yourself.”
A guide to the skies
For those new to the sport, during our interview, Dunaway shared a “Beginner’s Guide to Wingsuit Performance Competition”, a detailed primer on how these events are structured.
Each competition typically includes nine jumps — three per category — with pilots using advanced GPS systems like the FlySight to track real-time performance and stay aligned within their assigned flight lanes.
“Speed tasks measure horizontal velocity, distance tasks focus on how far you can fly, and time tasks reward the longest sustained glide,” Dunaway explained. “You’re balancing aerodynamics, body positioning, and environmental conditions in every second of the window.”
That precision, she says, is part of what keeps her coming back. During our interview, she made it clear that her craft was a scientific art and that every jump is a data set that paints a deeper picture of what it means to progress over the long term.
Breaking barriers at 10,000 feet
While the sport has traditionally been male-dominated — with women making up just 14% of licensed skydivers worldwide — Dunaway is determined to change that.
In addition to her competition schedule, she now hosts women’s performance camps, training new athletes in technique, safety, and confidence.
After a series of domestic competitions and back-to-back appearances at the U.S. Nationals and World Championships, Dunaway plans to compete next at the Australian Nationals in early 2026.
Outside the competition zone, Dunaway’s days are spent practicing law — a profession she says offers a surprising amount of overlap with skydiving. Her dual identity — attorney and athlete — has made her a role model for aspiring women and anyone committed to life-long progression.
Looking ahead
Dunaway plans to take a short break before training for the next competitive season but says her real goal is to continue building community in the sport.
“I’m proud of what we accomplished this year, but this is just the beginning,” she said. Amelia is a testament to the proud leaders who rise up from the local community.
For updates on Amelia Dunaway’s competitions, training camps, and women’s programs, visit the FAI Wingsuit Performance Flying page or follow her journey on social media.
