posted Jan 10th, 2024 - The recent NSL News medal count in 4-way Open Class competition featured the most successful world champions in the event since 1985. The sole leader on the list of gold medalists, Mark Kirkby, won five world championship titles (1995 - 1997 - 2001 - 2008 - 2012) within a time period of 17 years, as the NSL News pointed out on 12 January 2023.

The same profile story of Dennis Praet mentioned the two French (Eric Fradet, Philippe Schorno) and two Belgian (Andy Grauwels, Dennis Praet) 4-way world champions who are tied in 2nd place with four gold medals.

That's where the gold medal count stopped at that time, even though it is more than difficult enough to win only one world championship title. Defending the title two years later is a major challenge that is surely not always successful, not even with the same lineup. Adding more to a collection of two gold medals is extraordinary and usually requires changes in the lineups, mostly due to the longer time period of training and competition. There is only one competitors with five world championship titles, four with four gold medals, and the collection of three is almost just as rare as the one of four or five.

4-way Open Class multiple gold medal winners at FAI Outdoor World Championships since 1985

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The magnitude of the challenge to win three 4-way Open Class gold medals, or even more, becomes more clear with a closer look at the list behind the five mentioned competitors. There are only two other competitors who are in 6th place with three gold medals, and they come from Belgium, as well.

David Grauwels' accomplishments have been covered comprehensively by the NSL News, while his team mate Jeroen "Bob" Nollet has been in the tail slot for NMP PCH HayaBusa since 2015, and he also won his three gold medals consecutively, in 2016, 2018 and 2021. He replaced original HayaBusa member Roy Janssen who left the team after winning the first FAI gold medals for Belgium in Prostejov 2014. Jeroen Nollet had been waiting for his chance for a few years as the team's alternate.

He had to deal with very high stakes, in fact the ultimate stakes, as he as the newest member of the team had to defend the world championship title two years later. The lineup with Roy Janssen had already shown in Dubai 2012 that they could win gold medals with Dennis Praet in the new lineup of 2011.

Jeroen Nollet then had to replace one of the world's most experienced competitors in the tail slot to defend the Belgian top spot in 4-way Open, and he had two years to catch up with the other three reigning world champions (Dennis Praet, David and Andy Grauwels).

4-way Open Class winners since 1985

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He did exactly that, and the same lineup won again in Australia 2018. That's when Dennis Praet, David and Andy Grauwels took home their third gold medals, before Dennis Praet and Andy Grauwels made it four in Tanay 2021, where David Grauwels was already in the camera slot. Dennis Praet could match Mark Kirkby's record with another gold medal, while Jeroen Nollet would join Eric Fradet, Philippe Schorno, Dennis Praet, and Andy Grauwels at the same time.

However, Arizona Airspeed's Niklas Hemlin will probably first win his third gold medal (2012 - 2022 - 2024) before the NMP PCH HayaBusa members may have the next opportunity to add more to their own collection.

It seems to be naturally easier to win two consecutive times, as 4-way teams can handle the pressure of the necessary intensive training schedule better with shorter time frames for the commitment. There are several 4-way competitors in the history of the sport since 1985 who have two world championship titles under their belt, including Frank Mahut and Jerome Bunker (1987 - 1989), Jerome David and Patrick Saget (1991 - 1993), Marin Ferre and Davide Moy (1999 - 2003), Gary Smith (2004 - 2006), Niklas Hemlin (2012 - 2022). Niklas Hemlin is the only competitor with two gold medals who did not win them at consecutive world championships. There was a whole decade between his first time with Arizona Airspeed in Dubai 2012 and the second time in Eloy 2022. His three current team mates (Mikhail Markine, Christopher Kuhlmann, Joey Marshall) would join all other previous world champions with two gold medals at consecutive events.

NMP PCH HayaBusa gold medal count since 2002

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