Belgium enters the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on Saturday without the athletes who brought home three medals at last year’s Championships in Eugene.
Heptathlon chamption Nafi Thiam has withdrawn from the competition. Long distance runner Bashir Abdi has also had to pull out.
10 out of the 31 selected Team Belgium members will be in action on the opening day on Saturday.
Noor Vidts, who finished fifth last year, stands a significant chance of stepping onto the heptathlon podium, provided her Achilles tendons don’t flare up. She will kick off the competition with the 100m hurdles.
Later in the morning, Robin Vanderbemden, Imke Vervaet, Florent Mabille, and Camille Laus will begin their 4x400m mixed relay heats. A place in the top 3, or one of the two best times, will secure their ticket to the final at 21h47.
The morning session will end for the Belgians with the 1500m women’s event. Elise Vanderelst will aim to finish in the top six of the second heat, where she will compete against the sensational Kenyan, Faith Kipyegon, the double Olympic and world champion. The semi-finals are scheduled for Sunday (17h05).
Vidts will return in the evening (19h05) to compete in the shot put. At the same time (19h09), Philip Milanov, will participate in his fifth consecutive World Championship event eight years after his silver medal in the discus throw in Beijing.
