Meeting organiser Wilfried Meert is particularly proud and happy to present the star studded field. “Ahead of the event it was not sure whether the athletes were still eager to compete after the demanding Olympic Games. The results in Lausanne and Paris speak for themselves. The athletes are still highly motivated and we can expect a fabulous night of athletics. We can only be utterly proud with 41 Olympic Medal Winners on our Entry Lists”, said Meert.
The Women’s 100m is one of the highly awaited events. Newly crowned Olympic Champion Elaine Thompson will line up against Dafne Schippers. The Dutch sprinter will not hesitate to claim her revenge agaist the Jamaican.
The Men’s 200m also promises to become a race to look out for. Christophe Lemaitre, Adam Gemili and Churandy Martina are the Olympic 3rd, 4th and 5th placers who will attack the famous bend in the King Baudouin Stadium.
The High Jump presents another duel between Mutaz Essa Barshim and Bogdan Bondarenko. In 2014 both contenders made it a breathtaking competition with Barshim claiming victory with 2.43m, the second all time performance and a meeting record ! What a challenge for Bondarenko to be on the infield again in Brussels.
A WORLD RECORD IN THE MAKING ?
Two athletes announced a World Record attempt on Sep. 9th. Almaz Ayana from Ethiopia gives it try to become the fastest ever woman in the 5000m. In Rio Ayana set a fabulous World Record in the 10000m in 29’17”45. She also won bronze in the 5000m.
In the 3000m steeplechase Conseslus Kipruto from Kenya has set his sights on the World Record that is owned by Saif Saaeed Shaheen from Bahrein, a native Kenyan formerly known as Stephen Cherono. This World Record dates back from 2004 and is one of three World Records in Olympic distances that remains unbeaten.
A RACE IN HONOR OF IVO VAN DAMME
Asbel Kiprop definitely wants to wash away his 6th place finishing in Rio. The 2008 Olympic Champion has a secret plan to write 1500m history at the Memorial Van Damme. There is no better place to do so in honor of 1500m runner Ivo Van Damme.
THE 41 OLYMPIC MEDAL WINNERS
| 13 Gold Medal Winners: Nafi Thiam, Elaine Thompson (goud op de 100 én de 200m), Almaz Ayana (10.000m), Caster Semenya (800m), Natasha Hastings (4x400m), Tianna Bartoletta (ver en 4x100m), Courtney Okolo (4x400m), Caterine Ibarguen (hinkstap), Jeff Henderson (verspringen), Michelle Carter (kogel), Conseslus Kipruto (3.000m steeple ), Sara Kolak (speerwerpen) en Ekaterini Stefanidi (polsstokspringen). 15 Silver Medal Winners: Makhloufi (800 en 1500m), Barshim (hoogspringen), Ortega (110m horden), Malachowski (discus), Manyonga (ver), Viljoen (speer), Morris (polsstok), Rojas (hinkstap), Adams (kogel), Petersen (400m horden), Williams (4x100m), McPherson (4x400), Jackson (4x400) , Schippers (200) en Thompson (4x100) 13 Bronze Medal Winners: Bondarenko (hoog), Bascou (110m horden), Ayana (5.000m), Murphy (800m), Mekhissi (3.000m steeple), Lemaitre (200m), Spotakova (speer), Marton (kogel), Rypakova (hinkstap), Jasinski (discus), Doyle (4x400) en Henry (4x100) |
