A High Jump infrastructure on a square in the heart of the city and high class athletes, youngsters and children involved in high jumping and in athletics. That was the idea and the receipt of a unique sporting event on Square St Aubin. Ahead of the main program there were continuous initiation sessions led by Tia Hellebaut.
The AG Insurance Urban Memorial Van Damme was set up in collaboration with the Race for the Cure that was held in the morning in Namur in support of Think Pink. Think Pink is this year’s fundraising project of the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme. The AG Insurance Urban Memorial Van Damme celebrates the 40th anniversary of the AG Insurance Memorial Van Damme.
In the late afternoon all eyes were set on the 6 high jumpers. Thiam, Hannelore Desmet and Hanne Van Hessche were there to represent Belgium. Our Sports Personality of the Year Thiam opened at 1.80m and kept a clean sheet until 1.94m. The Italian jumper Desiree Rossit went along with Thiam until 1.94m to break her personal best outdoor record. She broke out in tears when she crossed that bar that earned her qualification for the Olympic Games in Rio.
Thiam went on to attack 1.98m in an attempt to raise her personal best by 1 cm. She failed to do so but that didn’t prevent her from celebrating her victory. Next weekend Thiam is due to compete in Götzis (Austria) in her first heptathlon this year.
Sunday June, 5 : Ghent, Square Emile Braun (Long Jump with Thomas Vander Plaetsen)
Saturday June 11 : Antwerp, Grote Markt (Pole Vault with Fanny Smets)
Friday July 22: Ostend, Klein Strand (Discus Throw with Philip Milanov)
Sunday September, 4th and Thursday September, 8th. More details on locations and events will be given in the next days or weeks.
