Sports journalists crown runner Isaac Kimeli ‘Flemish giant’

The Flemish sports journalists awarded Isaac Kimeli the 2025 Flemish Giant. Kimeli won silver in the 5,000 meters at the World Championships in Tokyo in September. This achievement also earned him the Flemish Sports Jewel last month. He finished second in the Sportsman of the Year referendum, behind cyclist Remco Evenepoel.

Kimeli follows former Red Devil and record-breaking international football player Jan Vertonghen on the list of honors. The Flemish Giant is the award with which the Flemish Federation of Sports Journalists recognizes the Flemish sportsperson of the year. Not only results are taken into account. ‘By highlighting people from the sports world who have a story or have demonstrated a great personality, the Flemish Giant aims to differentiate itself from the other major sporting trophies in the country.’

Racism

‘Isaac is absolutely the deserved winner,’ said Kim Gevaert, the meeting director of the Memorial Van Damme, herself a winner of the trophy in 2002 and 2004. ‘He delivered a fantastic performance this summer at the World Athletics Championships, and his interview afterward made a huge impression.’

‘This was definitely my best year, I'll never forget it,’ Kimeli declared in a video. ‘This trophy will be placed next to my bed, next to the Tokyo medal.’

An interview Kimeli gave immediately after winning silver, in which he declared himself a proud Belgian, despite the racism he experienced, played a role in his being awarded the Flemish Giant medal. ‘That really stirred something up,’ Kimeli admits. ‘I received a lot of reactions from other top athletes. They thought it was a good time to address it. Racism is a daily problem, not only among famous athletes or media figures, but also at work or at school.’

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