On Belgium's hottest day of the year, the temperature in Brussels' Grand Place rose higher as fans welcomed home athletes from Team Belgium after their historic haul of ten medals from the 2024 Paris Olympics.
There must be something about the French capital, as the last time Belgium brought home ten medals was 100 years ago at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.
On Monday, after a short (and slightly delayed) Eurostar trip home, Team Belgium greeted fans on both the balcony of the Brussels City Hall and the cobbles of the emblematic square.
At one point, due to heightened euphoria and temperatures, the Brussels Fire Brigade had to use their hoses to cool everyone down. Most of Belgium's star athletes were present – with only Wout van Aert and Lotte Kopecky, both bronze medallists, absent as they were already busy preparing for upcoming events.
A visibly moved Nafi Thiam (gold medallist in the women's heptathlon) received a standing ovation from the adoring crowd.
Bashir Abdi, silver medallist in the marathon, put on a show for the black-yellow-red crowd. As did the gold and bronze medallist, Remco Evenepoel, who even doubled-up as a DJ following content creator Average Rob and Omdat Het Kan's warm-up set before the ceremony began at 17:00.
A well-deserved heroes' homecoming for the Belgian Olympians.
In photos
Belgian athlete Nafissatou Nafi Thiam at the Grand Place in Brussels. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel wears his gold medals as he poses behind the DJ decks at the Grand-Place. Credit: Belga Virginie Lefour
Content creator Average Rob aka Rob Van Impe warms up the crowd with his 'Belgian Anthem'. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
Belgian athlete Bashir Abdi. Credit: Belga / Virginie Lefour
Fan celebrations. Credit: Belga / Virginie Lefour
Belgian athletes Alexander Doom, Jonathan Sacoor, Naomi Van den Broeck and Helena Ponette. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
Belgian taekwondoka Sarah Chaari meets fans. Credit: Belga / Hatim Kaghat
Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
Belgian gymnast Nina Derwael. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
Belgian athlete Noor Vidts meets fans. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
The crowd is sprayed with water due to the warm weather before the start of celebrations after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, at the Grand Place - Grote Markt and the Brussels City Hall, in Brussels, on Monday 12 August 2024. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
Players of the Red Panthers hockey team. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
Belgian athlete Isaac Kimeli greets the crowd. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
