KNOWCKOUT TORNAMENT
AUSTRALIAN NATIONALS

DONI GALES

TOURNAMENT

CHAMPION

Body Piloting Championships – National Championships Knockout Tournament Recap

The 2025 Body Piloting Championships made history as the first-ever body piloting tournament to be hosted at a National Championships anywhere in the world. This milestone event not only showcased the growth of body piloting as a competitive discipline but also set the stage for future expansion into other national championships or the creation of a dedicated global circuit.

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The field featured a mix of Australia’s top athletes and world-class international flyers, making this the most competitive line-up to date. International names included Kyra Poh (Singapore), a world-renowned tunnel athlete with countless podium finishes; Kai Minejima-Lee (Japan), a dynamic flyer known for speed and technical precision; and Wills Bond-Toms Ivans (UK/Latvia), a strong European contender. Their presence highlighted the global appeal of body piloting and elevated the standard of competition.

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Tournament Flow and Highlights

The tournament followed a knockout format, with every round intensifying the pressure. Each flyer battled not only their opponent but also the razor-sharp judging system that tracked every bust — trick errors, line breaks, and penalties — making for thrilling, unforgiving contests.

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• Early Rounds:
  Standout performances included Jacob Logan and Maia Margerison, where Jacob advanced with only 5 busts, showcasing discipline under pressure. Maia, though eliminated, impressed with her attacking style and willingness to push the limits despite recording 17 busts.

• Kai Minejima-Lee vs. Doni Gales:
  A highlight clash of the quarterfinals saw Kai, the Japanese technician, register 21 busts, while Doni held steady at 19 busts. It was an incredibly tight battle, but Doni’s composure in Round 2 sealed his advancement.

• Semi-Finals:

  • Vincent Brazier vs. Amy Jamieson delivered a technical war. Vincent, usually consistent, racked up 13 busts, while Amy stayed slightly cleaner at 11 busts, punching her ticket to the finals.

  • Doni Gales vs. Kyra Poh was a marquee international matchup. Doni scored 20 busts to Kyra’s 22, edging her out by the narrowest of margins. Kyra’s run reinforced why she is regarded as one of the sport’s brightest stars, while Doni showed grit in holding off her late surge.

• The Grand Final – Doni Gales vs. Amy Jamieson:
  The stage was set for a showdown between Doni’s experience and Amy’s momentum.

  • Doni opened with a shaky Round 1 (8 busts) but tightened up in Round 2, finishing on 14 total busts.

  • Amy started strong but fell into trouble late, stacking up 20 busts by the final buzzer.
    Doni’s ability to stay composed under pressure made the difference, crowning him Back-to-Back Knockout Champion — his second consecutive title in this format.

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What This Means for the Sport

This event wasn’t just about crowning a champion. It marked the birth of body piloting on a national stage. For the first time, a body piloting tournament was woven into a National Championships, giving the discipline official recognition and exposure to a broader competitive audience.

With international competitors already traveling to take part, the vision is clear:

• Expansion into other National Championships worldwide, creating a global tour of body piloting competitions.

• Dedicated National Championships hosted solely for body piloting, giving athletes more opportunities to compete at the highest level.

• Broadcast-ready formats, with professional overlays and clear bust-based judging, ensuring the sport is both understandable and exciting for fans and sponsors alike.

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Final Word

The 2025 National Championships didn’t just crown Doni Gales as champion — it cemented body piloting as a global sport on the rise. With international stars joining local talent, a professional judging system, and a clear vision for expansion, the future of competitive body piloting looks brighter than ever.

Doni’s back-to-back knockout titles set the benchmark, but the real story is the sport’s growth. From here, the only way is up.