2025 is a great year for Elien Vekemans: 4.56 metres on 24 January, 4.61 metres on 17 June, 4.65 metres on 28 June, 4.66 metres on 19 July and 4.73 metres on 13 August. Vekemans keeps raising the bar. \u201cI want to do that again on Friday,\u201d says Vekemans confidently. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long and tough season, of course, but I find it very easy to recharge my batteries for a top meeting like the Allianz Memorial Van Damme.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe goal on Friday is to confirm that I can consistently jump over aabout 4m60. But of course, I always want to jump higher and higher. When I jumped my record of 4m73, I didn\u2019t feel like I had reached my limit. Around 4m80, you\u2019re close to the medals at the major championships, so that’s getting closer. One day, I want to clear 5 metres. But I still have time; my big goal is the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How does Vekemans explain her great progress this year? \u201cFirst and foremost, I\u2019ve been spared from injuries. Secondly, I\u2019ve made a lot of progress in terms of technique and speed. And last but not least, I\u2019ve also become mentally stronger: I don\u2019t set any limits for myself in terms of height. You can\u2019t think: will I be able to do it? And I now also know that a jump doesn\u2019t have to be perfect to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is not the first time Vekemans has competed in the Allianz Memorial Van Damme. She was also there last year. \u201cBut my \u201cdebut\u201d at the Memorial was 10 years ago,\u201d Vekemans reveals. \u201cI took part in the Memorial\u2019s schools\u2019 competition and our school won the relay. I was invited to share the podium with Jonathan Borl\u00e9e and then we got to watch the meeting from the stands. We were sitting by the pole vaulting and I was immediately hooked. I thought it was cool and wanted to try it myself. That\u2019s where the seed was planted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vekemans\u2019 first sport was gymnastics. \u201cCoordination and body awareness are very important in gymnastics, and that also applies to pole vaulting. During my first training session, my coach said I had a talent for it. I really enjoy it. There\u2019s no better feeling than flying through the air,\u201d laughs Vekemans, who greatly admires Olympic gymnastics Champion Nina Derwael, who recently ended her top-level sporting career and will be honoured at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme on Friday. \u201cIf I get the chance, I\u2019d definitely like to have a chat with her. Her mental strength is incredible, I admire that. I\u2019m sure I could learn a lot from her.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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