The pole vault phenomenon, who has only suffered two defeats over the last three seasons and remained undefeated in 2024, also took up the challenge, more anecdotal this one, of facing the Norwegian 400m hurdles specialist Karsten Warholm in a 100 m, in Zurich. Where Duplantis demonstrated its sprint qualities (winner in 10.37) during an event organized by their common sponsors.
Enough to further establish the popularity of the champion born in Louisiana, a man of his time, spontaneous in his communication and available to the media, who is undoubtedly today the best-known athlete throughout the world since… Usain Bolt! In a word, a blessing for the first Olympic sport.
Nafi, Bashir and Noor, our standard bearers
A gold medal, a silver medal and a bronze medal: such is the result of Belgian athletics at the Paris Olympic Games where our country was able to count on sure values to represent it at the highest level.
In the heptathlon, Nafi Thiam was once again there. Highly anticipated after the success of the revelation in 2016 in Rio and that of the confirmation in 2021 in Tokyo, the 30-year-old athlete, who had meanwhile regained the European crown in June in Rome, has written a new page of history of Belgian sport and athletics at the Olympic Games by securing a third consecutive Olympic title thanks to the third total of his career (6,880 pts). A first in its discipline!
Not to spoil anything, as in Italy two months earlier, Nafi Thiam was accompanied on the podium by Noor Vidts, the double world indoor champion who, after placing fourth in Tokyo, this time won the Olympic medal that she coveted so much.
Finally, Bashir Abdi was punctual despite a start to the year hampered by an injury. As in Japan, the Ghent player played the leading roles during the marathon and, on a course that was extremely demanding for the organisms, he only tolerated the only Ethiopian Tamirat Tola in front of him. A second place that Bashir Abdi took, as usual, with a big smile!
The Belgian 4x400m relays are there
If the icing on the Olympic cake is still awaited, the Belgian 4x400m relays have remarkably negotiated a very difficult year punctuated by four major events.
At the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, led by Alexander Doom, who was crowned individually to everyone's surprise, the Belgian Tornados first achieved a prestigious victory over the United States to retain their world title.
Alexander Doom's daydream: “When I look at who I beat, I think I can be very proud of myself”
It was then a bronze medal that our relay runners went to the Bahamas, scene of the Olympic qualifications where the Belgian Cheetahs (4th in Scotland) and the mixed relay, despite the injury of Cynthia Bolingo, also ensured their presence at Paris.
A 19th podium for the Belgian Tornados, bronze medalists in the Bahamas, where the Belgian Cheetahs qualified for the Paris Games!
At the Euro in Rome, the men's team won the continental title for the fourth time outdoors, while Doom took gold in the 400m thanks to a fabulous Belgian record (44.15).
As for the Cheetahs, they won the first medal in their history, bronze, finishing behind the Netherlands and Ireland.
The medal of deliverance for the Belgian Cheetahs: “This will give us strength for the future”
At the Stade de France, some unavailability unfortunately cost our teams dearly, poorly rewarded for their efforts (4th place for the mixed team and the Tornados with national records, 7th place for the Cheetahs)… From now on, it is without the help of Kevin and Jonathan Borlée, young retirees, that the Grail will have to be won.
