One year after becoming the first-ever The World Games wakeboard freestyle champion, Australia's Noah Bollard reflects on a career-defining victory in Chengdu, the confidence it gave him, and his ambition to help the sport reach new heights.
Almost a year has passed since Noah Bollard made history by claiming the inaugural wakeboard freestyle gold medal at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu. As the first athlete to stand atop the podium in the discipline, the Australian not only secured a landmark victory for himself but also for a sport continuing to grow on the international stage.
Looking back on the Games, Bollard says the memories extend well beyond his winning run.
"Looking back, it was one of the most memorable competitions in my career," he said.
"Meeting so many new friends who share the same love for the sport and having them all on the dock cheering for you is one of the most memorable moments of The World Games."
The inclusion of wakeboard freestyle in The World Games programme marked a significant milestone for the discipline, making Bollard's victory a historic first.
"Being the first gold medallist in this discipline is very special to me as it means the sport is growing, and I'm honoured to be a part of it," he said. "This achievement also means a lot to me personally as this was my first gold medal in the pro division."
His path to gold, however, was far from straightforward.
After struggling to land the run he wanted in the opening stages of the competition, Bollard found himself in the last chance qualifier and was forced to fight for his place in the knockout rounds. It proved to be the turning point of his campaign.
"At the beginning of the competition, I was struggling to put down the pass I wanted, which landed me in the last chance qualifier," he recalled.
"After narrowly scraping into the semifinal, I finally put down the run I wanted and won my heat. From that moment on it gave me a boost in confidence as I went into the final where I put down my best pass."
"Having the one good ride in the semifinal was definitely the moment that made the biggest difference in securing the title."
The historic victory has also helped shape the next chapter of his career. Winning The World Games title has brought fresh opportunities while raising his expectations for future competitions.
"Winning the wakeboard freestyle discipline has definitely opened new opportunities for me in my career and has increased my goal expectations for future competitions," Bollard said.
Despite his success, the Australian remains committed to keeping the joy of the sport at its heart. His advice to the next generation is simple: never lose sight of why you started.
"Always keep your sport fun and remember why you do it," he said. "No matter your ability, always ensure that you're doing what you love, and you don't let it solely become your job as that will make you lose your love for it."
With The World Games set to return in Karlsruhe in 2029, Bollard is already looking ahead—not only to future competition but also to helping wakeboard freestyle continue its rise on the global sporting stage.
"I want to continue to help grow this sport and get it recognised as a well-known sport across the world," he said. "Competing in The World Games and having wakeboard freestyle as a discipline is a great way to help grow this sport and get it recognised."