Belgian Top Athletes to also put their Stamp on Allianz Memorial Van Damme

The Allianz Memorial Van Damme is traditionally an excellent opportunity for Belgian athletes to show off their skills in front of their home crowd. On Friday 22 August, a host of compatriots will compete at the King Baudouin Stadium.

The presence of Olympic Champion Nafi Thiam had already been announced. She will compete in the long jump against fellow heptathlete and brand new Olympic bronze medallist Noor Vidts.

Alexander Doom (400 m), Rani Rosius (100 m), Eliott Crestan (800 m) and two-time Paralympic Champion Léa Bayekula (400 m T54) have also confirmed they will attend.

11 Belgian Champions

More compatriots will be added to this list. A total of no fewer than 11 Belgian champions, who won the national title at the King Baudouin Stadium last weekend, will be in action.

In the high jump, all eyes will be on Thomas Carmoy, multiple European and World Championships finalist. He just missed out on a podium place at last year’s European Championships in Rome, but he already has two indoor bronze medals to his name.

New Belgian Records?

In the women’s 5,000 metres, a special duel awaits between Jana Van Lent and Elise Vanderelst, who have both significantly improved the Belgian record in recent months. At the beginning of July, Van Lent was the first to break the 15-minute barrier (14:58.68). A few weeks later, Van der Elst bettered it by another seven seconds (14:51.13), but just three days later she lost her BR to Van Lent again, who set a new top time of 14:42.93. Can we expect a new record attempt at the Memorial?

The men’s 1,500 metres also promises to be an exciting race between Ruben Verheyden and Pieter Sisk. At the end of June, Verheyden broke the BR finishing in 3:30.99 in Paris. With a personal record (3:31.85), Sisk set the third best Belgian time ever in the same race.

Other Belgian athletes who will compete at the King Baudouin Stadium: Simon Verherstraeten and Emiel Botterman (100m), Kobe Vleminckx (200m), Daniel Segers (400m), Timothy Herman (javelin), Delphine Nkansa (100m), Paulien Couckuyt and Naomi Vandenbroeck (400m hurdles), Eline Dalemans (steeplechase), Elien Vekemans (pole vault) and Ilona Masson (triple jump). Paralympians Johannes Balbaert (400m T53/54) and Ilias Benkaddour (100m T63) will also be in action.

Extra heats have been added to the programme for the men’s and women’s 400m, starring an extensive selection of the Belgian Tornadoes and Belgian Cheetahs. The selection will be made in consultation with Belgian Athletics to give the athletes one last chance to show what they can do before the World Championships in Tokyo.

Tickets

Once again, the 49th Allianz Memorial Van Damme promises to deliver Belgian top-level sport in a unique atmosphere and ambiance. Would you like to experience this sporting highlight live? Order your tickets now on this website.