European Athletics Championships: Medals for Belgium's men and women in 4x400m
There was double success for Belgium on the final evening of the European athletics championships in Rome, with the men's 4x400m team taking gold and the women's team securing the bronze medal.
The men's team, nicknamed the Belgian Tornados, finished in 2:59.84 as they won their fourth European outdoor title. They were followed by Italy and Germany.
The Belgian runners were Jonathan Sacoor, Robin Vanderbemden, Dylan Borlée and Alexander Doom. With the individual gold medallist and championship record-holder Doom on the final leg, Belgium were the favourites beforehand and controlled the race.
This is the Tornados' 20th medal, in their 34th international final, and their fourth European outdoor title. Two years ago, in Munich, they took silver.
The women's team, the Cheetahs, finished with a season's best of 3:22.95. Gold went to the Netherlands, followed by Ireland. Naomi Van den Broeck, Imke Vervaet, Cynthia Bolingo and Helena Ponette ran well at the front for the entire race, and were narrowly able to hold off Italy, France and Poland.
This is the first medal at an international championship for the Belgian women. At the past two European Championships, in 2018 in Berlin and in 2022 in Munich, they ended in fourth place.
The two medals on the final day are the fourth and fifth for the Belgian delegation in Rome. Earlier, Doom in the individual 400m and heptathlete Nafi Thiam won gold, with Noor Vidts in the heptathlon and Saccoor in the 400m winning bronze.
#FlandersNewsService | The closing stages of the women's 4x400m relay in Rom © PHOTO AFP
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