World Championships Athletics Indoor: Unprecedented 3rd place in medal stand for Belgium
"We have done well if we return with one medal and very well if we finish with two medals." The words uttered by top sports coordinator of the Flemish Athletics League (VAL) Rutger Smith at the start of the World Indoor Athletics Championships now sound prophetic. "It was a brilliant tournament," he said.
Noor Vidts gave Belgium gold in the pentathlon on Friday, and last night the Belgian Tornados provided dessert in the 4x400 metres. "We finished third in the medal standings. That's unprecedented," Smith said in front of the Sporza/VRT NWS camera.
"We got two fantastic medals, but other athletes also achieved high placings. Think of Ben Broeders' fifth place and Thomas Carmoy and the Cheetahs' sixth place. It was a brilliant tournament."
Our Belgian athletes have been on the rise for several years. "Belgian athletics has received a boost. You can also see that in the team: Noor Vidts takes gold and then everyone wants to do something nice. There is room for improvement and that is positive," Smith concluded.
This summer the World Championships in Eugene and the European Championships in Munich are on the programme. "I do expect something from it and am thinking of a record number of athletes."
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