Femke Bol is unbeaten this year in the 400m Hurdles. On July, 13th she obliterated in London her own European Record by 58 hundredths of a second. Her mark of 51”45 is the third fastest time in history. Reigning World and Olympic Champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the only woman that has ever run faster. Her World Record stands at 50”68 and she also has a mark of 51”41 on her name. At the upcoming World Championships Bol and Levrone-McLauglin will not meet each other in the 400m Hurdles. Levrone-McLaughlin will compete in the flat 400m in Budapest. Brussels will present a unique duel between both World Class 400m Hurdlers !
Ben Broeders, the partner of Femke Bol, will also compete at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme. The 28 year old athlete from Leuven holds the National Pole Vault Record with 5,85m and is a familiar face in the Wanda Diamond League. 4th in Oslo was his best Diamond League placing in 2023 so far. In 2022 Broeders won the Paris Diamond League meeting. Highly favoured in Brussels will be – as always – World record Holder Mondo Duplantis from Sweden (6,22m) who is already confirmed to jump in Brussels.
High Jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh will also be on the Brussels infield. The Ukrainian set a National Record and equalled the Meeting Record with a fantastic effort over 2,05m. Reigning World Champion Eleanor Patterson from Australia will challenge Mahuchikh. Another eyecatcher in Brussels will be Arriyon Knighton. The 19 year old sprint sensation from the USA was crowned the National 200m Champion and is eager to win the gold medal at the World Championships in Budapest. Last year Knighton had to settle for Bronze in Eugene. For sure he will also be ready to shine at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme, the second to last leg of the Wanda Diamond League.
Queen Makoma will be the closing act of the 47th Allianz Memorial Van Damme. The Dutch singer, who is based in Brussels, was a runner up in the Dutch tv-format Idols and was hailed by the jury as “the new Tina Turner”. Queen Makoma will bring an exclusive Tina Turner Tribute, in honour of the Queen of Rock ’n Roll who passed away in May this year. The concert will be followed by a spectacular laser and light show that will bring a wonderful night of athletics to an end.
