In the mid-1970s, Ivo Van Damme was Belgium’s great hope in athletics. He was just 22 when, in 1976, he sent the nation into raptures by winning two Olympic silver medals. But less than half a year later, tragedy struck: Ivo lost his life in a tragic road accident. The nation was in shock and in mourning. Today, Ivo’s name lives on as an inspiration for new generations of athletes and, of course, in one of the world’s greatest athletics meetings: the Allianz Memorial Van Damme.

FROM FOOTBALL PITCH TO ATHLETICS TRACK

As a child, Ivo Van Damme did not dream of a career in athletics, but of football. Born in Brussels, he played for Racing White (later RWDM), until as a teenager, he had to choose between football boots and athletics spikes. He opted for the spikes and joined Daring Leuven.

ROAD TO MONTREAL

In the summer of 1975, Ivo broke Roger Moens’ 20-year-old Belgian record in the 800 metres. Early on in 1976, he won the European indoor title, having already secured silver a year earlier. That was followed by Montreal. “I have a note pinned to the wall above my bed that says Olympic final: 1.43.8.“, Ivo wrote from his training camp.

A STAR IS BORN

In Montreal, Ivo emerged as one of the Games’ biggest stars. He took silver in the 800 metres, and with great flair: exactly 1.43.8 … A few days later, he took silver again in the 1,500 metres. No Belgian athlete had ever achieved such a feat at a single Olympic Games. On his return, Ivo was welcomed as a national hero.

FOREVER 22

However, on 29 December 1976, the unthinkable happened. On his way home from a training camp in the south of France, Ivo was killed in a road accident in Bollène. The death of the 22-year-old athlete shocked the country to the core; his funeral drew a huge crowd with other greats of Belgian athletics carrying his coffin.

Half a century later, Ivo Van Damme remains one of the greatest icons in Belgian sporting history. With an unrivalled Olympic track record and a swagger that few Belgians possessed.

ALLIANZ MEMORIAL VAN DAMME

Even before his triumphs in Montreal, Ivo had already urged a number of Belgian journalists to organise a major international athletics meeting in Brussels, so that the Belgians could compete against strong opponents on home soil. The idea took shape in October 1976, and it was soon to be put into practice.

The founding fathers met again at Ivo’s funeral and decided to organise a one-off memorial meeting in Ivo’s honour. That very first evening at what was then the Heysel Stadium, on 16 August 1977, exceeded all expectations. The stands were packed, the atmosphere was magical and the athletes ran their hearts out for Ivo. It was not to remain a one-off meeting…