With the Paris Olympics opening in less than four weeks, the microcosm of Belgian athletics is once again experiencing major upheavals. The cause is the (possible) arrival next season of the Dutchman Bram Peters (32 years old) as coordinator of the 4×100 m and 4×400 m relays, a decision taken without prior consultation with the Belgian coaches concerned.
We have known for two years that Jacques Borlée will stop coaching the men’s 4x400m relay and the mixed relay after the Olympic Games. He confirmed this at the European Championships in Rome last month.
“I’m stopping the 4x400m, I did 17 years at the top level, I think I only missed one final and we won a lot of medals. I think I’ve covered everythinghe said. I may have another role to play in terms of transmitting, in terms of how we should arrive at the major championships. We need to change attitudes, we need to be much more winning…”
The torchbearers understand Jacques Borlée’s decision and support him: “At some point, we have to pass the torch”
Logically, the (Flemish) federation therefore set out to find a successor, a mission entrusted to the coordinator of high-level sport Rutger Smith. And he apparently saw in Bram Peters, current assistant to the Swiss Laurent Meuwly at the National Sports Centre in Papendal, an interesting profile, not for coaching but for coordinating all the national relays.
Not consulted at all in this matter, any more than the LBFA which one might think would have its say, Rudi Diels (women’s 4x100m), Lieve Van Mechelen (men’s 4x100m), Carole Bam (women’s and mixed 4x400m) and Jacques Borlée (men’s and mixed 4x400m) logically did not appreciate it.
Expertise and experience
Their expertise does not even seem to be taken into account, hence the very legitimate grumbling that reached the Belgian Olympic Committee via an email from Jacques Borlée.
Is it indeed necessary to look abroad to supervise our relays? Is there not enough experience and knowledge in Belgium, whose skills are internationally recognised, to fulfil this role?
In this Olympic year, there is a sacred union around the 4×400 m relays: “Everyone must realize where they are capable of contributing something”
The name of Patrick Himschoot, already in the men’s 4x400m fold, has also been circulating and would constitute a solution… if the negotiations with Bram Peters were not already well advanced.
“We wanted to wait until the end of the Olympic Games to communicate but the situation will force us to do it earlier”acknowledged Gery Follens, the co-president of Belgian Athletics.
