Nafi Thiam Returns to Competition at Belgian Athletics Championships
Heptathlete Nafi Thiam will make her first appearance in a year this weekend at the Belgian Athletics Championships in Brussels. Alongside Thiam’s comeback, her teammates will be hoping to qualify for next month’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, reports 24brussels.
Thiam will compete in the 100m hurdles and the long jump. She has not participated in any events since August 2024, after securing her third Olympic gold medal in Paris.
The World Championships, scheduled from September 13-21, represent Thiam’s primary focus. She aims to clinch her third heptathlon world title in Tokyo, having previously won in 2017 and 2022.
Seeking Qualification
So far, 17 Belgian athletes have qualified for the World Championships, with 12 of them set to participate in the meeting at the King Baudouin Stadium this weekend.
Elise Vanderelst and Jana Van Lent will compete in the 5,000m race. Vanderelst has already secured a spot in the 1,500m but favors the 5,000m distance. Paulien Couckuyt is scheduled to run the 400m hurdles while Naomi Van den Broeck will compete in the 400m.
In men’s events, Eliott Crestan and Ruben Verheyden will participate in the 800m. Alexander Doom is set to run the 200m, Daniel Segers the 400m, and Pieter Sisk the 1,500m. Ben Broeders will compete in the pole vault.
Injuries have sidelined heptathlete Noor Vidts and middle-distance runner Jochem Vermeulen, while Isaac Kimeli will also miss the event. Marathon runners Bashir Abdi and Koen Naert are not expected to compete either.
Additionally, 15 athletes still seeking World Championship qualifications through rankings will compete, aiming for strong performances to enhance their standings.
In the women’s events, Rani Rosius and Delphine Nkansa will compete in the 100m, Imke Vervaet in the 200m, and Helena Ponette in the 400m.
The men’s squad includes Michael Obasuyi and Elie Bacari in the 110m hurdles, Jonathan Sacoor in the 400m, and Thomas Carmoy and Jef Vermeiren in the high jump.
Thiam is also expected to take part in the high jump during the Memorial Van Damme at the same venue on August 22.
