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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 31: Agnes Jebet Ngetich of Kenya celebrates winning the women's 3000m on Day 1 of Grand Slam Track- Philadelphia at Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania on May 31, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images/AFP Emilee Chinn / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
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World Record Attempt and Five Olympic Champions already confirmed for 49th Allianz Memorial Van Damme

In addition to Nafi Thiam, at least another four Olympic Champions will be attending the Allianz Memorial Van Damme on 22 August: Hamish Kerr, Yemise Ogunleye, Thea Lafond and Rojé Stona have all confirmed their attendance. Meanwhile, Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Ngetich is planning to attack the 5000 metres world record.

The 24-year-old Kenyan Agnes Jebet Ngetich means business: she will start at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme with the ambition of breaking the 5000 metres world record once again. She was a front-row witness when Beatrice Chebet set the world record at 13:58.06 at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene at the beginning of July. Ngetich finished second in that race, which was also the third fastest time ever for that distance (14:01.29). This inspired her to go for the record herself. Ngetich is having a very consistent and successful season on the track, after previously excelling in cross-country and significantly improving the 10 km world record (road) last year. The Memorial thereby continues its tradition of very strong long-distance races.

Now that a lot of Wanda Diamond League meetings have been completed, we are getting a better picture of the competition for the Memorial, the penultimate Diamond League meeting of the season. Big names to already look forward to are: Four Paris Olympic Champions. The programme in Brussels features the men’s high jump once again, including Gianmarco Tamberi as previously announced. He will face stiff competition from Olympic Champion Hamish Kerr, the New Zealander who took gold after a thrilling jump-off with Shelby McEwen. Kerr currently leads the Diamond League rankings. In the discus throw, all eyes will be on Jamaican Rojé Stona, who not only took gold in Paris but also bettered the Olympic record taking it to 70.00 metres.

In the women’s competition, “our” Olympic Champion Nafi Thiam (who will be competing in the long jump at the Memorial) will be joined by German Olympic Shot Put Champion Yemise Ogunleye. National heroine Thea Lafond is also returning to Brussels: last summer, she made history by winning the first ever gold medal for the Caribbean island of Dominica in the triple jump.

Six Olympic Champions…

There will be even more glittering Olympic gold on Friday 22 August: during the opening ceremony (at 7 pm), Tokyo Olympic Gymnastics Champion Nina Derwael, will take a special lap of honour. Derwael announced her retirement from top-level sport a few weeks ago. Belgian sports fans will now have the opportunity to bid farewell to Nina.

Once again, top-level sport and a great atmosphere are guaranteed at this 49th Allianz Memorial Van Damme. Don’t miss it! Tickets are available at our website.

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Agnes Jebet NGETICH