Belgium announces first 13 athletes selected for Winter Olympics
The Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC) on Tuesday announced an initial list of 13 Belgian athletes selected for the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. The first selection covers disciplines for which qualification periods have concluded and quota places have been allocated.
Among the selected athletes are Belgium’s two medallists from the Beijing Games four years ago, speed skater Bart Swings and short track specialist Hanne Desmet. Swings won Olympic gold in the mass start in Beijing, while Desmet claimed bronze in the 1,000 metres.
In figure skating, Belgium will be represented by Loena Hendrickx and Nina Pinzarrone. In speed skating, Swings will be joined by Fran Vanhoutte, Indra Médard, Isabelle van Elst, Sandrine Tas and Mathias Vosté.
As expected, Hanne Desmet will be joined by her brother Stijn Desmet in the short track squad, along with Tineke den Dulk and Ward Petré. Maximilien Drionwill be the only athlete representing Belgium in ski mountaineering.
Full reveal in January
The final Belgian selection will be confirmed on 23 January, once all the qualification periods have concluded. The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo from 6 to 22 February.
Belgium had 19 athletes at the Beijing Winter Games in 2022 and 22 in Pyeongchang in 2018. The national record remains the 1936 Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, when 27 Belgians took part, including an ice hockey team of 10 athletes.
Bart Swings and Hanne Desmet pose with their medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. PHOTO © BELGA PHOTO LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ
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