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Mondo Duplantis: “Winning is easy, losing is much harder"
Three times Mondo Duplantis has beaten his own pole vault world record this season. Will the Swedish phenom add a fourth at the 48th edition of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme by raising the bar by another centimetre? “I don't feel any pressure to jump another record. I just love pole vaulting and I love winning. Winning is easy, losing is much harder," said Duplantis, who is set for his fourth appearance on Friday at the Wanda Diamond League finals.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen: “My race plan will depend on a lot of factors”
Jakob Ingebrigtsen is chasing the overall Wanda Diamond League win in the 1500 metres on Friday night's Allianz Memorial Van Damme, but he is keeping his tactics close to his chest. My race plan will depend on a lot of factors. And even during the race that plan can change," said the Norwegian.
Letsile Tebogo: “I prepared myself for any weather conditions”
Letsile Tebogo is on fire. The 21-year-old from Botswana, who won a 200m gold at the Paris Olympic Games and silver with his country on the 4x400m relay, returned to competition five more times since Paris and won in all of his appearances. At the Allianz Memorial in Brussel Tebogo is looking to continue his winning streak, taking part in Saturday's 200m finals of the Wanda Diamond League and preparing for any weather conditions....
Femke Bol: “You don't feel the fatigue with such a fantastic Brussels crowd”
For Femke Bol the Allianz Memorial Van Damme is a meet close to home, where she'll be the favourite to win the closing 400 metres of the Wanda Diamond League final. "At the end of the season everyone is tired, but with such a fantastic crowd in Brussels you don't even feel the fatigue," the Dutchwoman said.
Julien Alfred: ”I’ve always wanted to be Usain Bolt”
Julien Alfred has put Saint Lucia on the world map thanks to her Olympic title in the 100 metres. The 23-year-old sprinter is a proud ambassador of the small Caribbean island, even though she has not lived there since she was 14, and her big idol is Jamaican. “I've always wanted to be Usain Bolt,” said Alfred, who wants to give it her all one last time in the 100 metres at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme on Friday and crown herself Wanda Diamond League Champion for the first time.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh: ”My Belgian neighbours are coming to watch; it is so cool!”
A world record and an Olympic title. When it comes to sports, 2024 was a fantastic year for Yaroslava Mahuchikh. On Friday, the 22-year-old Ukrainian high jumper can chalk up a third consecutive final victory of the Wanda Diamond League at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme. “The fact that my Belgian neighbours are coming to cheer me on in the stadium is amazing to me, too crazy for words,” said Mahuchikh, who obviously misses her home country Ukraine immensely.
Alison dos Santos: ”I love coming to Belgium and do it often”
Alison dos Santos loves Brussels and the Allianz Memorial Van Damme. In 2021 and 2022, the Brazilian won the 400-metre hurdles there. On Saturday, he will give it his all to win a third time. It would be the crowning moment of a fantastic season.
McLaughlin-Levrone: “Running a personal record is my Goal for Friday and Saturday”
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the queen of the Olympic Games athletics competition will be at the start of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme. Brussels will be her first and only meeting after the Games. Friday she will run the 400 metres, Saturday the 200 metres. “I'm ready for it and am really excited,” said the 25-year-old American, who is eager to improve her personal record at both distances.
More than 100 Olympic Medals at Allianz Memorial Van Damme
The list of participants for the 48th Allianz Memorial Van Damme is just about complete and looks very impressive. All athletes combined account for 101 medals at the past Olympic and Paralympic Games. Never before has an athletics meeting been so well-attended. This and numerous other special moments will make this two-day Memorial at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 September exceptional.
Additional races to honour McLaughlin-Levrone
To avoid any confusion or misunderstanding, we confirm that 400m hurdles Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be competing at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme, though not as part of the Wanda Diamond League Final races.