In just over a decade of skydiving, Jeana Billings has risen to altitudes of the competition community with a speed that would make any jump plane jealous. Amassing more than 10,000 jumps since 2013, she earned her first gold medal on the world stage in 2021—in 8-way formation skydiving—which she has repeated each year since. In 2024, Billings became only the second person to earn double gold medals at an Fédération Aéronautique Internationale World Championships, doing so in 8-way FS and in the female category of 4-way FS. She has been even more of a frequent flyer at USPA Nationals, winning 19 gold medals to date. Her success over a relatively short time is a testament to what skydivers can accomplish with the right amount of dedication, energy and passion.
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“No one I’ve seen works as hard as Jeana does, both as a competitor and even more as a coach. Jeana has had a profound influence on the growth of the FS disciplines and on the sport as a whole in recent years. I’m proud to be her teammate.” –Matt Davidson, Parachutist profilee #198
Nickname: Gigi
Age: 41
Height: 5’6”
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
Marital Status: This fish has been caught!
Children: Two
Pets: My daughter forgot to take “her dog” when she moved out, I guess now I’m a full-time dog sitter.
Occupation: Full-time coach and event manager for Skydive Paraclete XP
Education: Bachelors’ in criminal justice and Psychology
Pet Peeves: People who play the victim; you always have the power over your perspective.
Pre-Jump Superstitions: I’ve got to put my left glove on first. Always.
Favorite Food: Sushi
Rock, Rap or Country?: ‘80s rock, the Grease soundtrack and any country
Life Philosophy: The bad days are what make the good days even better!
Jump Philosophy: Chase the progress, not the results, and keep a growth mindset.
Team Name: XP8 (all variations including Airspeed XP8 and GKXP8) and XPG4
Sponsors: Airtec, Cookie Helmets, Larsen & Brusgaard, Performance Designs, Skydive Paraclete XP, Sun Path
Container: Sun Path Javelin RSK1
Main Canopy: PD Valkyrie 96
Reserve Canopy: PD Reserve 113
AAD: Airtec CYPRES
Disciplines: 4-way and 8-way FS
Year of First Jump: 2013
Licenses/Ratings: A-68860, B-41156, C-43751, D-38944; Coach and AFF-I
Championships: Man, I’m just chasing the next competition.
Number of Jumps: 10,100
FS: All of them!
Largest Completed Formation: 82-way
Cutaways: 7
What’s your advice for a skydiver seeking the world stage?
This sport is constantly evolving, and techniques will come and go (or change), so you never really know everything—or anything, for that matter. What you do know is what you’re willing to endure along the way and how much you’ll invest in yourself. Enjoy the process of what you learn along the way and don’t hide from your mistakes. They can be the things that guide us to the top or the things that hold us back. What makes a champion how much the person is willing to grow.
Most people don't know this about me:
I think the fear of chickens is public knowledge now, so: I spent two summers traveling and working at a carnival before the age of 15.
Is there one jump that stands out the most?
Round five at the world meet in Russia. It was a tough battle between our 8-way and the French 8-way teams, but that jump felt magical and in slow motion … We were up and down, point by point, each round—but I knew at track-off that we had them, even before seeing the scores.
How long do you plan on skydiving?
I’ll never stop.
Describe your time at Skydive Paraclete XP:
I could go on forever. It’s family, not just to me but to everyone here. XP believes in the growth of champions and values the work ethic it takes to get there. John D’Annunzio was my first player-coach in 2015 and I’ve had a front row seat to how they invest in the future of the sport since then. XP has efficiency nailed down with fast turns between loads, and time never wasted with the largest wind tunnel in the USA.
What do you like most about the sport?
The communication without words. Words are hard.
What do you like least?
It doesn’t last long enough.
Who have been your skydiving mentors?
I would have a hard time choosing between Kirk Verner and BK (Brian Krause).
I skydive because …
I am addicted to progress. I learn more about myself as a human being through skydiving, competition and coaching every day.
Most embarrassing moment at a drop zone:
Puking in the airplane prior to exiting for 16-way at the 2017 Nationals. Long story, and not my proudest moment!
The toughest thing to do in skydiving is:
Trying to see the good. We focus so much energy on the small percent that needs improvement that we often skip the good stuff. It’s tough to pat myself on the back.
What kind of skydiving student were you—flailer or natural?
Not sure you’d say I was a natural, but I was definitely someone that practiced so much outside of the actual jump that it probably helped my progression (I even practiced arching in the bathtub).
What do you consider your most significant life achievement?
I created two wonderful daughters who are grown and now creating life. I’m a grandma.
What has been your strangest thought on a skydive?
I had a sprint of jumping every single day between training and coaching when I did over 300 skydives in one month. I was pushing through a bit of exhaustion, and upon opening had line twists (normally an easy fix), but my reaction time was so delayed that I just watched it for what seemed like forever before deciding to act. My thought in the moment was, “I wonder if it’ll untwist itself.” It’s embarrassing to even admit that I allowed myself to become so tired.
Explain Jeana in five words or fewer:
Relentless, lifelong learner.