Couckuyt: "I haven’t reached the end of the road yet"

At the start of this year, Paulien Couckuyt thought the Allianz Memorial Van Damme might well be the last race of her career, but the outstanding season she is currently enjoying has made the 29-year-old Belgian hurdler change her mind …

Ten days ago, at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Couckuyt set a new Belgian record of 53.28 in the 400-metre hurdles. “A time like that opens doors and takes me into a circuit I’ve always dreamt of. Next year, I’ll probably be able to compete in lots of Diamond League events. Now that I have the chance, I have to chase those dreams,” said the 29-year-old athlete.

“The decision to continue isn’t 100 per cent finalised yet, but it’s certainly heading in that direction. I feel that I haven’t reached the end of the road yet. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed 2026 and want to continue on this course. I was surprised myself that I finished third in Lausanne in a field worthy of a World Championships final and clocked the sixth-fastest time in the world this year.”

“After a good week’s training following Lausanne, I’m fairly certain I’m still at the same level to go all out again in Brussels on Friday. I’d love to show the Belgian crowd what I can do!”