Belgium claims three gold medals in opening days of World Games
After three days of competition at the World Games in Chengdu, China, Belgium has already captured three gold medals. Belgian athletes have topped the podium in acrogym, trampoline and orienteering.
The 12th edition of the World Games began strongly for Team Belgium. On Friday, the second full day of competition, Maysae Bouhouch and Silke Macharis claimed gold in the acrogym pairs event, beating out Ukraine and Portugal.
The following day brought a second title for the country. Trampoline jumper Brent Deklerck secured victory in the double trampoline final, scoring 26,800 points to defeat Britain’s Omo Aikeremiokha and Canada’s Gavin Dodd.
The weekend also delivered Belgium’s third gold medal, with Yannick Michiels winning the orienteering sprint competition on Sunday. It was a second career medal at the World Games for the 34-year-old, after a podium finish in Wroclaw, Poland, in 2017.
Korfball medal in sight
A fourth medal is already within reach. On Sunday, Belgium’s korfball team qualified for the semi-finals. If they beat Taiwan on Tuesday, a silver medal is guaranteed.
The World Games are held every four years and feature sports that are not part of the Olympic programme. In the previous edition in 2022, held in Birmingham, USA, Belgium set a national record with 20 medals—11 gold, four silver and five bronze.
This year’s event in Chengdu runs until 17 August, with 76 Belgian athletes competing in 22 different disciplines.
Maysae Bouhouch and Silke Macharis won gold on Friday. © BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE
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