By posting a time of 46.39 for his first 400m since May 13, 2023, on Saturday in the series of the Belgian championships in Brussels, then going down to 45.99 in the final on Sunday, Kevin Borlée, silver medalist behind his brother Dylan (45.32 for his first title) is now certain to be included in the selection for the Paris Olympic Games, the fifth of his career.
His brother Jonathan, meanwhile, had a physical problem with his back and hamstring that prevented him from lining up.
“The clock is going down, it’s encouraging, I beat the Belgian masters record (Editor’s note: which he held in 46.14), smiles the former European champion, sixth Belgian performer of the season. On a tactical level, there is still a lot of room because I had to adapt to my Achilles tendon pain. I can’t use my usual mechanics and remain passive on the feet. These pains really need to go away for me to find the speed and ease. I will do a medical check-up this Monday to define the rest of the program. But I’m quite confident, I showed that I have the body and the legs.”
Kevin Borlée, however, hesitated to line up for the National. “This Saturday morning, I didn’t yet know if I was going to run, my physiotherapist had advised me against it. I had a lot of doubts and even kept in mind that it might be my last race. I said to myself: even if it means stopping, I might as well know why! I ran to find out what I still had in my legs and to stop doubting, to know if I was going to make it to Paris or not.”
The return of Kevin Borlée, the confirmation of Verherstraeten, the record for Nkansa and Van den Broeck: the Belgian championships have started strong!
This last year is “mentally very difficulthe agrees. After last season (Editor’s note: he had to give up the Budapest World Championships), I didn’t think this second year was going to be like this again. We fight against ourselves, it’s not easy, but the end of our career is approaching and I don’t want to have regrets.”
Just before the championships, the Borlée brothers spent ten days in the sun in Montpellier.We decided two days before leaving. I was running in 13° weather in training shoes on dirt tracks, and we needed to get out, it did us good!”
In a delicate family context, the help of big sister Olivia, present with them, was appreciated. “She went through these moments a bit too, she helps us a lot. She is very positive, much more positive than us! And if she hadn’t been there, we might have stopped by nowadmits Kevin Borlée. These last few weeks really haven’t been easy.”
“We have no guarantees but we are working hard for a happy outcome”: Kevin and Jonathan Borlée still believe in the Paris Olympics
A plea for Jonathan
As in 2021 before the Tokyo Games, Jonathan Borlée is currently experiencing a blank season. He was then selected in the selection by the coach, Jacques Borlée, before being lined up in Japan. Will he be again this time?
“Jo is capable of doing what I did: he is as strong as me, if not strongerassures his brother. He is often ahead of me in training. My return should give him confidence. But it is not up to us to make the decision… In any case, we do not want to go to the Olympics as tourists. That is not our mentality, that is not how we see things. If things do not go well, we will be the first to withdraw from the team.”
Belgian Athletics Championships: in the absence of Thiam, Doom and Bolingo, here are the expected duels at the King Baudouin Stadium
