4 DESERTS CHAMPIONS
The 4 Deserts World Champion title goes to the man and woman with the highest cumulative rankings in each of the 4 Deserts events. The 4 Deserts Champion must complete the Atacama Crossing (Chile), the Gobi March* (Mongolia), the Namib Race** (Namibia) and The Last Desert (Antarctica) in order to qualify for the 4 Deserts World Champion title. The 4 Deserts World Champions are among the best endurance athletes in the world.
*The Namib Race used be called the Sahara Race and was held in Egypt, Jordan and Namibia.
**The Gobi March race location has changed from China to Mongolia.
Sauve, Isabelle
4 Deserts Champions (Female) 2018
Isabelle Sauve is a police officer for the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada.
She completed the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2016, the Sahara Race (Namibia) 2018 as the leading lady, and the Gobi Ma ...
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Nationality
Races Completed
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2016
Sahara Race (Namibia) 2018
Gobi March (Mongolia) 2018
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2018
BIO
Isabelle Sauve is a police officer for the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada.
She completed the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2016, the Sahara Race (Namibia) 2018 as the leading lady, and the Gobi March (Mongolia) 2018 as second lady.
At The Last Desert (Antarctica) not only did she place as first female, but also joined the 4 Deserts Club!
Wong, Ho Chung
4 Deserts Champions (Male) 2018
Wong Ho Chung, a physical fitness instructor for Hong Kong's Fire Services Department, spends his spare time burning up ultramarathon trails around Asia and the world. He started running competitively ...
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Nationality
Races Completed
Sahara Race (Namibia) 2018 Gobi March (Mongolia) 2018 Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2018 The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2018
BIO
Wong Ho Chung, a physical fitness instructor for Hong Kong's Fire Services Department, spends his spare time burning up ultramarathon trails around Asia and the world. He started running competitively in 2011 and has since taken first place at The North Face 100 races in the Philippines and Hong Kong, races including King of the Hills, NE Mountain Marathon and Sea to Summit, as well as Top 10 finishes in Vibram 100 (World Tour) and Marathon Des Sables, and ranked 16th at UTMF in Japan. At The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2018 Ho Chung completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam 2018 and became the 4 Deserts Champion 2018, after completing the Namib Race (Namibia), the Gobi March (Mongolia) and the Atacama Crossing (Chile) already this year, placing 2nd, 1st and 1st, respectively.
Mariash, Jax
4 Deserts Champions (Female) 2016
Jax Mariash is a professional ultra-runner and skimo racer who is the first female to complete the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus - all 4 Deserts PLUS the Roving Race in one calendar year – which she did i ...
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Nationality
Races Completed
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2015
RacingThePlanet: Sri Lanka 2016
Sahara Race (Namibia) 2016
Gobi March (China) 2016
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2016
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2016
BIO
Jax Mariash is a professional ultra-runner and skimo racer who is the first female to complete the 4 Deserts Grand Slam Plus - all 4 Deserts PLUS the Roving Race in one calendar year – which she did in 2016. Jax, not only completed 1,250km of racing in 4 Deserts Race in 2016, she achieved a podium place at all five races. She finished second overall female at her first race of the year at RacingThePlanet: Sri Lanka 2016 and was then the first female at the Sahara Race (Namibia) 2016, Gobi March (China) 2016, the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2016 and The Last Desert (Antarctica)!! An American citizen, Jax ran all of her races in 2016 in honor of the LymeLight Foundation to help provide medical grants to children and young adults suffering from Lyme Disease. She set herself a goal to raise at least enough money to give away one grant of $10,000, but exceeded that goal by more than 50%! “When I am out there racing in the desert, there is a lot of synergy between what I am doing and the patients fighting treatment." Jax is sponsored by DripDrop, CEP Compression, Stoked Roasters, Zeal Optics and VOKE tab. If you ever feel like giving up during a race, take Jax's advice: "Just know it can't hurt forever, stick it out and keep putting one foot in front of the other. In these races it is imperative to have a positive mindset and attitude to keep going. Positive thinking is the only way to get through."
Chen, Yen - Po
4 Deserts Champions (Male) 2016
Chen Yen-Po (Tommy) is a celebrity athlete in his home country of Taiwan. It all started in 2009 at the age of 23, when he completed the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage race – this paved the way for his car ...
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Nationality
Races Completed
Sahara Race (Namibia) 2016
Gobi March (China) 2016
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2016
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2016
BIO
Chen Yen-Po (Tommy) is a celebrity athlete in his home country of Taiwan. It all started in 2009 at the age of 23, when he completed the Himalayan 100 Mile Stage race – this paved the way for his career in ultramarathons. Over the last eight years he has completed more than fourteen ultramarathons on seven continents and holds the record as the first Asian to run across seven continents. He has been a top finisher of many ultramarathons around the world including the Yukon Arctic Ultra 2012, a 700-kilometer race in which he also broke records for being the first Asian competitor and youngest finisher. Tommy’s drive came from a desire to see the world and overcome fears – the dark, heat, health issues and more. He says “now I am not so afraid”. In 2011 Tommy was diagnosed with throat cancer. His convalescence period was the lowest point in his life – he said “that is what it must feel like to receive the death penalty!” Although he wanted to train, he could not even swallow water without feeling pain. When he did start to train again he couldn’t even run for half an hour “I was completely out of shape and felt like crying. It took him more than one year but through discipline, patience and passion he finally he got through that difficult time. He says that “all the places I have been to were just far away destinations in a geography textbook when I started - every place is different and has a different challenge”. Tommy does take the competition side seriously though, he says “as an athlete, ranking is absolutely important – only being in your best condition can you have the chance to conquer yourself and win.” In 2016 he set himself a new challenge – the 4 Deserts Grand Slam. He has kept his enthusiasm and spirit up through the year by motivating himself with the end goal: “when I feel tired I picture myself crossing the finish line at the last race in Antarctica. Imaging what that will feel like, and having the time to rest and to process all of the feelings and emotions. When I think back on this year I want to say to myself “you are great. You make the effort to love life”. For Tommy, the more he runs, the larger the world seems. Through these processes he gained clarity about who he is and what he wants to accomplish. Every time he runs, he gains new energy. In the cement urban jungle, people are judged by social status – in nature, he feels insignificant. The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2016 is Tommy's final race in the 4 Deserts Grand Slam - all 4 Deserts races in one calendar year. As the Overall Champion at the recent Atacama Crossing (Chile), second place overall finisher at the Sahara Race (Namibia) and fifth place overall finisher at the Gobi March (China), Tommy leads the pack for the 4 Deserts Champion trophy in 2016. This award is presented at The Last Desert to the male and female contenders with the lowest cumulative ranks from each 4 Deserts race.
Martinez Fernandez, Jose Manuel
4 Deserts Champions (Male) 2014
Jose Manuel “Chema” Martinez Fernandez represented his country at the Olympics 2004 in Athens, Greece, where he finished 9th in the 10,000 meters. Chema then returned to the Olympics in Beijing, China ...
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Nationality
Races Completed
Sahara Race (Jordan) 2014
Gobi March (China) 2014
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2014
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2014
BIO
Jose Manuel “Chema” Martinez Fernandez represented his country at the Olympics 2004 in Athens, Greece, where he finished 9th in the 10,000 meters. Chema then returned to the Olympics in Beijing, China, in 2008 where he finished 16th in the Olympic Marathon. He has also competed in the World Championships in Athletics, European Athletics Championships, Mediterranean Games and World Cross Country Championships. Chema was the Madrid Marathon Champion in 2008 and has a personal best marathon time of 2:08:09. The Nike Running sponsored athlete completed the 4 Deserts Grand Slam - all 4 Deserts races in one calendar year - in 2014 to become the 4 Deserts Champion. His impressive year included first place overall finishes at Gobi March (China), Atacama Crossing (Chile) and The Last Desert (Antarctica) and a second place overall finish at Sahara Race (Jordan).
Breiter, Isis
4 Deserts Champions (Female) 2014
Isis Breiter is a mother of four who lives with her husband in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Isis placed first overall in the women's division at The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2014 and Gobi March (Chin ...
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Nationality
Races Completed
Sahara Race (Jordan) 2014
Gobi March (China) 2014
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2014
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2014
BIO
Isis Breiter is a mother of four who lives with her husband in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. Isis placed first overall in the women's division at The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2014 and Gobi March (China) 2014. She also placed first in her age category at Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2014 and sixth woman overall at Sahara Race (Jordan) 2014. An enthusiastic and talented runner, she has finished 21-kilometer and 86-kilometer races. In addition to her accomplishment as 4 Deserts Champion, Isis is the first person from Mexico to complete the 4 Deserts Grand Slam.
Flammersfeld, Anne-Marie
4 Deserts Champions (Female) 2012
German Anne-Marie Flammersfeld made history at The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2012 when she became the only woman to ever win all 4 Deserts events - made even more impressive by the fact that she did al ...
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Nationality
Races Completed
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2012
Gobi March (China) 2012
Sahara Race (Egypt) 2012
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2012
BIO
German Anne-Marie Flammersfeld made history at The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2012 when she became the only woman to ever win all 4 Deserts events - made even more impressive by the fact that she did all of them in one year! “I had no idea which one I would have taken out if I only had to run one,” she says. Antarctica was her favorite desert from the beginning: “Antarctica was a real adventure for me, running at a place where only a few people have access to made it more exciting.” Spending six months of the year al altitude in the Swiss Alps helped Anne-Marie prepare for the difficult conditions and long stage days of the deserts. She says, “I’m not made for the heat, I prefer a colder climate." Her most memorable moments during her journey have been filled with both pleasure and pain: to being alone in a sandstorm in the Gobi March with 25 kilometers to go and facing a gastro-intestinal virus (“it hit me like a fist”), to watching shooting stars in the Sahara Race. Whilst completing the 4 Deserts, her aim has been to raise 10,000 euros for her charity, Paulchen Esperanza, which supports children in need and poverty in Buenos Aires, Tanzania and Sri Lanka. “I worked out a personal ‘Running Project’ for the kids in Buenos Aires. When they will become regular runners they ‘earn’ a new pair of shoes or get a new running outfit."
Garcia Beneito, Vicente Juan
4 Deserts Champions (Male) 2012
Vicente Juan Garcia Beneito, a firefighter with the Wild Wolf Force in Alicante, Spain, finished a phenomenal year in 2012. Vicente completed each of the 4 Deserts events in first position overall, n ...
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Nationality
Races Completed
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2012
Gobi March (China) 2012
Sahara Race (Egypt) 2012
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2012
Sahara Race (Namibia) 2018
BIO
Vicente Juan Garcia Beneito, a firefighter with the Wild Wolf Force in Alicante, Spain, finished a phenomenal year in 2012. Vicente completed each of the 4 Deserts events in first position overall, never once relinquishing his lead during the multi-day, multi-stage races. His focus is notable, but so is his spirit - Vicente has become fast friends with many of his 4 Deserts fellow racers. Despite his apparent ease at crossing deserts, Vicente finds the terrains challenging. Equally, he enjoys the beautiful landscape. “Although I was running fast, I noticed that I was thinking about many things in my life which is mind clearing”, Vicente commented after his first event at the Atacama Crossing. The Spanish firefighter completed a record-breaking year as he became the first person (along with women's leader Anne-Marie Flammersfeld) to ever win all 4 Deserts races in one calendar year.
Sandes, Ryan
4 Deserts Champions (Male) 2010
Ryan Sandes is a professional athlete based in Cape Town, South Africa. He competed in the Gobi March and Sahara Race in 2008, the latter being the most fun: “I enjoy running in the sand!” His next st ...
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Nationality
Races Completed
Gobi March (China) 2008
Sahara Race (Egypt) 2008
RacingThePlanet: Namibia 2009
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2010
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2010
BIO
Ryan Sandes is a professional athlete based in Cape Town, South Africa. He competed in the Gobi March and Sahara Race in 2008, the latter being the most fun: “I enjoy running in the sand!” His next stab at RacingThePlanet: Namibia in 2009 was not so easy: “the terrain was a mixture of everything and the competition was tough!” But he was rewarded for his perseverance in Chile, while running the Atacama Crossing in 2010 Ryan came across the most amazing landscape. “The Salt Flats were insane!” In preparation for The Last Desert 2010, Ryan said he did “lots of running!"
Ryan's advice for those moments during the race where one’s spirits start to plummet is to “break the stage up into mini segments and put [your] head down and keep going. I tell myself that it's better than sitting behind a desk doing a 9-to-5 job!”
For Ryan, the 4 Deserts events have inspired an absolute turn-about of his professional life. “I have gone from having a desk job to becoming a professional athlete.” The 4 Deserts Champion in 2010, Ryan is also the first person ever to have won all 4 Deserts. He also currently holds the record by more than 3 hours for the Atacama Crossing.
The South African has advice for those considering taking part in the series: “Go for it and take the road less traveled!! It is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it will change your life forever.”
Pellizzer, Mirjana
4 Deserts Champions (Female) 2010
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Mirjana Pellizzer from Croatia is the 4 Deserts Female Champion in 2010 with 2nd place finished in the women's division at the Sahara Race 2008, the Atacama Crossing 2009 and The Last Desert (Anta ...
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Nationality
Races Completed
Gobi March (China) 2008
Sahara Race (Egypt) 2008
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2009
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2010
BIO
Mirjana Pellizzer from Croatia is the 4 Deserts Female Champion in 2010 with 2nd place finished in the women's division at the Sahara Race 2008, the Atacama Crossing 2009 and The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2010. She is truly a force to be reckoned with. Based in Rovinj, Mirjana is a hugely experienced runner, posting fast times in a number of top marathons.
Karnazes, Dean
4 Deserts Champions (Male) 2008
Named by TIME magazine as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People in the World," Dean Karnazes is a renowned outdoor athlete and bestselling author. He is also the 4 Deserts Champion in 2008.
“Th ...
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Nationality
Races Completed
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2008
Gobi March (China) 2008
Sahara Race (Egypt) 2008
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2008
BIO
Named by TIME magazine as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People in the World," Dean Karnazes is a renowned outdoor athlete and bestselling author. He is also the 4 Deserts Champion in 2008.
“They have reminded me that there is magic in misery,” says Dean Karnazes as he considers the impact RacingThePlanet events have had on his life. “Depravity and struggling bring a unique sense of self-fulfillment and accomplishment.” The fact someone of Dean’s calibre has struggled at all serves as a stern reminder that any race across a desert is going to be a serious undertaking.
The Los Angeles born athlete and author might be an ultra running legend, but he’s also human. And humble too. On paper, he’s the most famous of RacingThePlanet’s participants, but out in the desert, he’s just one of tthe guys.
Married to “the greatest gal on earth” and father of two kids, Dean has an eye wateringly tough running resume, as thick as a phonebook. His motivation is simple but immensely personal – he runs for his late sister Pary, tragically killed in an automobile accident on her 18th birthday. When it does get tough, he tells himself to just take “baby steps” breaking the event down into bite-sized pieces.
And for anyone out there who’s thinking of following in his footsteps? “What are you waiting for?”
Corti, Laura
4 Deserts Champions (Female) 2008
A private banker based in Italy, Laura doesn’t feel that any of the 4 Deserts events that she’s done have been particularly easy. She suffered a lot during the Gobi March 2007, but also loved the loca ...
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Nationality
Races Completed
Gobi March (China) 2007
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2007
Sahara Race (Egypt) 2008
RacingThePlanet: Vietnam 2008
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2008
RacingThePlanet: Namibia 2009
BIO
A private banker based in Italy, Laura doesn’t feel that any of the 4 Deserts events that she’s done have been particularly easy. She suffered a lot during the Gobi March 2007, but also loved the location, proving that even in hardship there’s still time to appreciate your surroundings. “Every event helps you to value more of what we call real life,” says Laura, who has also run the Atacama Crossing 2007, the Sahara Race 2008, The Last Desert 2008, RacingThePlanet: Vietnam and RacingThePlanet: Namibia.
Given the demands of her job, Laura usually only manages to train at weekends, but it’s a strategy that seems to work. When she’s not running or working, she enjoys sailing, scuba diving and spending time in the mountains. If the going gets tough during an event, Laura just walks slower until she feels better, telling herself: “I can’t go anywhere else, so I’d better finish.”
Another enthusiastic user of Parmesan cheese, Laura lists her favourite piece of equipment as a small towel. It’s a little luxury, but the kind of item that can make a huge psychological difference when you’re filthy and exhausted.
Galanzino, Francesco
4 Deserts Champions (Male) 2007
Francesco Galanzino is an entrepreneur from Tortona, Italy. He was crowned the 4 Deserts Champion when he completed The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2007. He also came 2nd overall in RacingThePlanet: Aust ...
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Nationality
Races Completed
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2006
Gobi March (China) 2006
Sahara Race (Egypt) 2006
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2007
RacingThePlanet: Namibia 2009
RacingThePlanet: Australia 2010
BIO
Francesco Galanzino is an entrepreneur from Tortona, Italy. He was crowned the 4 Deserts Champion when he completed The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2007. He also came 2nd overall in RacingThePlanet: Australia 2010.
Dorion, Lisanne
4 Deserts Champions (Female) 2006
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Nationality
Races Completed
Gobi March (China) 2003
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2004
Gobi March (China) 2005
Sahara Race (Egypt) 2005
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2006
Lin, Yi Chieh (Kevin)
4 Deserts Champions (Male) 2006
Kevin Lin is an ultramarathon runner from Taiwan who has completed the Gobi March 2003 and 2006, the Atacama Crossing 2004, the Sahara Race 2005 and The Last Desert 2006 to become one of the ...
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Nationality
Races Completed
Gobi March (China) 2003
Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2004
Sahara Race (Egypt) 2005
Gobi March (China) 2006
The Last Desert (Antarctica) 2006
Namib Race (Namibia) 2019
BIO
Kevin Lin is an ultramarathon runner from Taiwan who has completed the Gobi March 2003 and 2006, the Atacama Crossing 2004, the Sahara Race 2005 and The Last Desert 2006 to become one of the first 4 Deserts Champions in the 4 Deserts series.
