Belgium ended its journey at the third European Games in Krakow-Malopolska with a haul of thirteen medals.
Bagging two golds, five silvers, and six bronzes, the Belgian athletes displayed a diverse range of strength and skill.
Sarah Chaâri triumphed in the -62kg Taekwondo while Gianny De Leu dominated the -60kg Muay Thai category.
Silver medals were earned by boxer Oshin Derieuw, the 3×3 Lions men’s basketball team, sprinter Rani Rosius, high jumper Thomas Carmoy, and Muay Thai athlete Axana Depypere.
A historic performance
Belgium’s bronze medallists included boxer Vasile Usturoi, Quentin Mahaudin in karate, the mixed 4×400 relay team, Sarah Piccirillo in Muay Thai, fencer Stef Van Campenhout, and triathlete Jolien Vermeylen.
This year’s medal count marks an improvement for the Belgian team over the first two editions of the event.
In 2015, Belgium secured eleven medals at Baku, and in 2019, six medals at Minsk, Belarus. However, a direct comparison is challenging due to changes in the event programme.
Events like gymnastics and individual judo, key contributors to Belgium’s medal tally at Minsk, were not included in this year’s programme. On the other hand, Muay Thai, a recent addition, saw Belgium winning three medals.
The European Games bear significance for athletes striving to qualify for the forthcoming Olympic Games.
Numerous sports at the event offer quota places and points for Olympic ranking. Notably, in boxing, both Oshin Derieuw and Vasile Usturoi have now secured direct tickets to Paris, extending Belgium’s hope for Olympic glory.
