The Paris Olympics start on Friday and sports data firm Gracenote has analysed the prospects of each participating nation in the medals table. With a predicted 12 medals, Belgium could be on track for its best result since the 1924 Olympics (also held in France), in which it secured 13 medals.
Gracenote has assessed performances in previous Games, World Cups and World Championships to predict the results of the coming contest, which will see 165 athletes represent Belgium in 21 sports. When the same assessment was made last month Belgium was forecast just 11 medals.
The predictions place Belgium 20th in the medal table.
Four gold medals
The latest predictions put Belgium on track for four gold medals.
Three-time consecutive European heptathlon champion Nafissatou Thiam is expected to win again this year. She fell short of the podium in Gracenote's June prediction but has since risen in the projections.
Belgian Nafissatou Nafi Thiam. Credit: Belga/ Kurt Desplenter
Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel, who finished third in the Tour de France (the first Belgian male in 43 years to podium in the competition), is the current time trial favourite. Also in cycling, the 2023 world road cycling champion and Belgian Sportswoman of the Year Lotte Kopecky is favourite in the road race.
In judo, Matthias Casse is in the running for a gold, having taken a bronze medal in 2020.
Two silvers
Team Belgium is forecast two silver medals, a significant drop from the five that Gracenote predicted for Belgium in June. In equestrian eventing – which comprises dressage, cross country and show jumping – Belgium is set for second place.
Belgian Sarah Chaari. Credit: Belga/ Laurie Dieffembacq
Sarah Chaâri, the 19-year-old taekwondo practitioner who became Belgium's first female World Taekwondo champion in the lightweight category at the 2022 World Taekwondo Championships, is also predicted silver.
Notably, the Belgian Tornados (Belgian men's 4 × 400 metres relay team) and the Red Lions (Belgium men's national field hockey team) have gone down in expectations and no longer are forecast silver medals. Belgian showjumper Pieter Devos had been on this list but in the end was not selected to participate in the Games.
Six bronze medals
Several Belgian competitors have now been predicted bronze medals rather than silver. As well as the gold in road cycling, Kopecky is forecast bronze in the omnium category. In the pair race, cyclists Hélène Hesters and Katrijn De Clercq are also expected to secure bronze.
As already mentioned, the Belgian Tornados and the Red Lions are now in line for bronze rather than silver medals. Meanwhile, in men's road cycling, Wout van Aert is tipped for bronze.
Finally, gymnast Nina Derwael – one of Belgium's most renowned athletes – is Belgium's first-ever Olympic gold medallist in gymnastics. This time around she is expected to take bronze on the uneven bars bridge.
Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert. Credit: Belga/ Jasper Jacobs
Whether these predictions will reflect the final results remains uncertain; ahead of the last Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Gracenote predicted 11 medals for Belgium. It went home with just seven.
The United States remains at the top of the virtual table with a total of 112 medals (it won 111 in the last Summer Olympics), followed by China, which is predicted to win 86 (it won 89 in Tokyo 2020). Great Britain follows in third place with 63 (it won 64 last time).
