posted Oct 11th, 2023 - Two different topics initiated the most recent NSL Live Talk conversation that was recorded today, on 11 October 2023. The first one came with the headline of the NSL News on September 1st, barely a week after Round 10 at the 23rd FAI World Cup of Formation Skydiving: "Michele Silvi is leaving NMP PCH HayaBusa".

This topic has surely been discussed intensively in the Formation Skydiving competition world ever since, and coach Gary Smith provided some insights for the NSL News with the update on September 14th.

The news was shocking and unexpected, even for the Belgian national team, who have been in the process of re-building the team since Andy Grauwels stepped back after winning his 4th FAI world championship gold medal in Tanay 2021. Michele Silvi won his first world championship title at the same event when he took David Grauwels' slot, who could retire to the camera slot earlier than planned.

The NSL News was waiting for the right opportunity to discuss this first topic directly with Michele Silvi, and the second topic finally offered the connection. Michele Silvi visited the national outdoor championship of his native country, Italy, where Amnesya won their next 4-way title, as the NSL News reported on October 9th. Michele Silvi met Italian friends at the event and helped eX3MO and other teams with his world champion advice, as well.

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NSL Live Talk with Michele Silvi, Recorded on 11 October 2023

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Michele Silvi has a short, intensive and colorful 4-way career behind him. He was 23 years of age when Amnesya invited him to join the team at the end of 2016. A year later, his new team challenged the dominating 4-way team in Italy, eX3MO, for the domestic top position, as the NSL News pointed out in the recent update.

He won his own first national championship title in 2017 and attended his first outdoor world championship with Amnesya in Australia 2018. He knew by then that he wanted to become a 4-way world champion, which would be difficult to accomplish in Italy.

He contacted the reigning Belgian 4-way world champions of 2014, 2016 and 2018 who were quietly recruiting a new member who would eventually replace David Grauwels.

The original NMP PCH HayaBusa member was planning to switch to the camera slot as soon as the continuation of the HayaBusa 4-way plan would be secured.

Michele Silvi was chosen as the new HayaBusa member, and the NSL News published the breaking news on 3 June 2019. He was now the youngest member of the reigning 4-way world champions with 26 years of age, and he was on the way to accomplish his goal.

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NSL Live Talk with Amnesya, Recorded on 30 March 2018

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It was not an easy road, which began with boot camps and the whole process of becoming a member of the Belgian military forces. The original plan included the third consecutive set of FAI 4-way gold medals with the same lineup at the next outdoor world championship in 2020, the FAI Tanay Mondial, still with the same lineup of 2016 and 2018.

David Grauwels would then step back and take the camera slot, with Michele Silvi becoming the new inside center. This all changed when the impact of the corona virus crisis caused the cancellation of the outdoor world championship, which was re-scheduled for August 2021. The additional year of training before the next title defense was enough time for Michele Silvi to replace David Grauwels successfully, and the new lineup won the 4th consecutive world championship title, the first one for the newest HayaBusa member.

However, there were more challenges waiting for HayaBusa and the new lineup. Original member Andy Grauwles did not continue after winning his 4th gold medal, and NMP PCH HayaBusa were once again looking for a new team member. They recruited Neal Willems, and Michele Silvi switched to the open outside center slot to accommodate the new member as good as possible.

The progression of the new lineup was once again impressive, as the second half of the outdoor world cup in Norway was showing. However, Michele Silvi knew already that Round 10 would be the end of his 4-way career with NMP PCH HayaBusa. He decided to leave without knowing that the next time of trouble after the pandemic has arrived for the Formation Skydiving competition world. The event in Israel 2024 was canceled with immediate effect, and the FAI Bureau is looking for alternative hosts.

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NSL Live Talk with NMP PCH HayaBusa, Recorded on 3 June 2019

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