Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake at the Memorial!

On 7 September, the fastest men in the world, Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, head for the Belgacom Memorial Van Damme. That was confirmed by their coach Glen Mills in Jamaica.

Wilfried Meert went to Jamaica last weekend. He attended the trials, but mainly wanted to talk to Glen Mills, coach of Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake. In a recent survey by the Memorial’s organisation among the athletics fans asking them about their preferences of whom they would love to have over at the King Baudouin Stadium, the names of the Jamaican ace sprinters stood out. Mills had good news: both Bolt and Blake will be at the Belgacom Memorial Van Damme!

Who will run which distance is not yet clear. This year the Memorial holds both a 100m and a 200 meter. According to Mills chosing distances depends in part on the performances in the London Olympics. A direct clash between the two sprinters is possible. Last year in Brussels, Blake impressed in the 200m: 19’26" good for the IAAF’s "the performance of the year". Bolt himself managed a World Year Best with a 9’76" in the 100 meters.

Wilfried Meert is very happy with the presence of the two ace athletes confirmed. "This shows that we care for our audience," Meert said. "In an Olympic year, we put in additional financial efforts and especially if our fans ask about it so in such numbers. This confirms the Memorial’s top meeting status, which requires the most important current athletes to take part.