English
French
Dutch
The Allianz Memorial Van Damme is the 14th Wanda Diamond League meeting of the season and, as usual, will bring together the world’s top athletes and Belgian athletics stars in Brussels on Friday. “Considering a busy calendar of meetings following each other in rapid succession and the World Championships coming up soon on the other side of the world in Tokyo, it wasn’t easy this year, but I’m proud of what we can offer,” says Gevaert, who is the Meeting Director for her fourth Memorial.
“The public can look forward to the participation of eight reigning Olympic Champions, including Nafi Thiam,” said Gevaert. The three-time Olympic heptathlon Champion will compete in the long jump at the Memorial, where she will face, among others, Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson, the Olympic heptathlon silver medallist in Paris, and Dutch Paralympic long jump Champion Fleur Jong.
The other seven Paris Olympic Champions who will be starring in Brussels are: Winfred Yavi (3000 metres steeplechase), Thea LaFond (triple jump), Yemisi Ogunleye (shot put), Hamish Kerr (high jump), Rojé Stona (discus throw), Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (4x100m) and Sha’Carri Richardson (4x100m).
As a former Olympic sprint Champion (4×100 metres in 2008), Gevaert is really looking forward to the women’s 100 metres. “Our line-up is phenomenal, including Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, respectively the sprint queen of the past 15 years and the sprint sensation of the season. And they will be joined by reigning World Champion Sha’Carri Richardson and Daryll Neita, the number four at the Paris Games.”
World and Belgian Records
On Friday, Winfred Yavi will run the 3000 metres steeplechase at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme, a new discipline recently created by World Athletics. “It is almost certain that Yavi will break the current world record,” assumes Gevaert. “And in the 5000 metres, Agnes Jebet Ngetich will be going for the world record. Long distance running is part of the Memorial’s DNA, with some great records already set in the past.”
A few Belgian records could also be broken on Friday. “Elien Vekemans has already improved her BR five times this season in the pole vault. With the world’s top athletes all in attendance, she may be able to raise the bar even higher on Friday,” Gevaert predicts. “In the 1500 metres, we will see a duel between Pieter Sisk, Ruben Verheyden and Jochem Vermeulen, and in the 5000 metres between Elise Vanderelst and Jana Van Lent. New national records are also in the air in these races.” And thanks to an extra 400 metres, most of the Belgian Tornados and Cheetahs will also be competing on Friday.
“We will conclude the sporting programme on Friday evening with another exciting new discipline: the 4×100 metre mixed relay. Fast and unpredictable!” Gevaert enthuses. “And, of course, an ideal opportunity for our own Belgian teams to test themselves.”
Paralympians
As usual, some of Belgium’s best Paralympians will also be in action at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme. Brussels’ Léa Bayekula, two-time Paralympic Champion in Paris, wants to shine in front of her home crowd in the 400 metres (T54). In the men’s 400 metres in the T53/54 class, Belgium’s honour will be defended by up-and-coming talent Johannes Balbaert. The Memorial programme also features a 100-metre blades race, more specifically in the T63 class. This is the category of 32-year-old Brussels athlete Ilias Benkaddour.
With Léa Bayekula and the previously mentioned Dutch long jumper Fleur Jong, two Paralympic champions from Paris will compete at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme. Together with Thiam, Yavi, LaFond, Ogunleye, Kerr, Stona, Jefferson-Wooden and Richardson, this brings the total to ten reigning para/olympic champions!
Lotto Coach Academy
This year, the Lotto Coach Academy will once again take place in the run-up to the Allianz Memorial Van Damme. Thanks to the National Lottery players, Belgian coaches and athletes will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge through free expert clinics. In addition to gaining valuable insights, this is also an excellent opportunity to build a strong network within the athletics and sports world — perfect for exchanging experiences and ideas between coaches and athletes.
On Wednesday 20 August, Brussels will host a seminar at the Cardo Hotel with Olympic high jump Champion Stefan Holm, who will delve deeper into the mental aspects of top-level sport. The session will be introduced by Fernando Oliva.
On Thursday 21 August, 16 promising young Belgian athletes will take part in an exclusive clinic at the Roelandsveld in Dilbeek. Two disciplines will be in the spotlight: the 110-metre hurdles, with World Record holder Aries Merritt, and the high jump, where Olympic Champion Stefan Holm and Fernando Oliva will share their tips and tricks.
You can still register for the seminar and attend the clinic. Participation in the clinic is by invitation only. For all information: www.lottocoachacademy.be.
Tickets
This Friday, 35,000 spectators are expected at the King Baudouin. Tickets are still available.