Belgium at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Sporting event delegation

Belgium at the
2010 Winter Olympics

IOC code| BEL
NOC| Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee
Website| www.teambelgium.be (in Dutch and French)
in Vancouver
Competitors| 8 in 4 sports
Flag bearer (opening)| Kevin van der Perren
Flag bearer (closing)| Pieter Gysel
Medals|

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Total

Winter Olympics appearances (overview)

* 1924
* 1928
* 1932
* 1936
* 1948
* 1952
* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1994
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022
* 2026

The athletes entering the stadium during the opening ceremonies.

Belgium sent a delegation to compete at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from 12–28 February 2010. The nation has been to every Winter Olympics except two, both in the 1960s. The Belgian delegation to Vancouver consisted of eight athletes, competing in four different sports. The delegation did not win any medals, and their best performance in any event was ninth by Pieter Gysel in the short track speed skating 1,500 meters event.

## Background

[edit]

Belgium has been participating in the Olympic movement almost since the beginning, with their first appearance coming at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. They have competed in every Winter Olympic Games except for the 1960 and 1968 editions.[1] Coming into Vancouver they had won five medals in Winter Olympic competition, but none since the 1998 Winter Olympics.[1] Belgium qualified eight athletes into the Vancouver Olympics: three in alpine skiing, two in bobsleigh, two in figure skating, and one in short track speed skating.[2] This was Belgium's first time fielding women in bobsleigh competition, Eva Willemarck and Elfje Willemsen were entered in the two-woman race.[3] Figure skater Kevin van der Perren was chosen as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony, his second time doing so.[4][5] Short-track racer Pieter Gysel was selected as the flag bearer for the closing ceremony.[6]

## Alpine skiing

[edit]

Main article: Alpine skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Belgium qualified three athletes in alpine skiing.[7] Karen Persyn was 26 years old at the time of her race in Vancouver, the women's slalom, which was held on 26 February. She was making her first Olympic appearance.[8] She posted run times of 54.09 seconds[9] and 53.87 seconds.[10] Her combined time of 1 minute and 47.96 seconds was good enough to put her in 27th place, out of 55 women who finished both runs of the race.[11] Bart Mollin and Jeroen Van den Bogaert each contested only one event, the men's slalom on 27 February.[12] Mollin was 28 years old at the time, while Van den Bogaert was 30 years old.[13] Both men were making their debut Olympic appearance.[14][15] Mollin failed to finish the first run of the race, while Van den Bogaert posted a time of 53.99 seconds.[16] In the second run, Van den Bogaert posted a time of 54.57 seconds,[17] making his combined time for the race 1 minute and 48.56 seconds, which put him in 34th place out of 48 competitors who finished the race.[18]

Athlete  | Event  | Run 1  | Run 2  | Total  | Rank

|
|
|
|
|

Bart Mollin | Men's slalom | DNF  | did not advance
Jeroen Van den Bogaert | Men's slalom | 53.99  | 54.57  | 1:48.56  | 34
Karen Persyn | Women's slalom | 54.09  | 53.87  | 1:47.96  | 27

## Bobsleigh

[edit]

Elfje Willemsen made her Olympic debut in Vancouver.

Main article: Bobsleigh at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Belgium qualified one women's bobsleigh team. The two competitors, Eva Willemarck and Elfje Willemsen, were each 25 years old at the time of the Vancouver Olympics.[19] Both were making their Olympic debuts, and Willemsen would again compete for Belgium at the 2014 Winter Olympics.[20][21] The two-woman competition was held on 23–24 February, with two runs being contested each day.[22] Belgium's sleigh posted times of 54.27 seconds,[23] and 54.40 seconds on the first day.[24] Of the 21 teams competing, Belgium finished the first day in 15th place.[25] On the second day, Willemarck and Willemsen posted times of 54.64 seconds,[26] and 54.17 seconds.[27] Their final time was 3 minutes, 37.48 seconds, which placed the Belgians in 14th position for the overall competition.[22]

Athlete  | Event  | Final

|
|

Run 1  | Run 2  | Run 3  | Run 4  | Total  | Rank
Eva Willemarck
Elfje Willemsen | Two-woman | 54.27  | 54.40  | 54.64  | 54.17  | 3:37.48  | 14

## Figure skating

[edit]

Isabelle Pieman at the 2012 World Figure Skating Championships

Main article: Figure skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics

These Olympics were Kevin van der Perren's third Olympic Games. His best finish was ninth at the 2006 Winter Games.[28] He entered these Olympics with the goal of a top five finish.[29] Van der Perren performed the short program in a skeleton costume. He thought it was his best short program he had ever performed, and expected to score higher than his personal best of 75.80 points. He scored 72.90 points, which put him in 12th place.[30]

Twice during the free skate, he had to balance himself with a hand on the ice after his jump. Since he was nervous, he simplified his jumps for the middle of the program.[31] During the free skate he placed 18th with 116.94 points.[32] He finished with 189.84 total points, finishing in 17th place overall.[33]

Isabelle Pieman met the criteria for the Olympics in 2009, but the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee delayed in selecting her for her first Olympic Games.[34] She needed to finish in the top 24 to advance to the free skate.[35] She set a new personal record during the short program, scoring 46.30 points.[36] Pieman placed 25th, and did not advance to the free skating segment. She was happy with her finish, saying, "This was the best short freestyle in my career and I am very happy to have just been able to show that in Vancouver."[37]

Athlete(s)  | Event  | SP/OD | FS/FD | Total

|
|
|
|

Points  | Rank  | Points  | Rank  | Points  | Rank
Kevin van der Perren | Men |

72.90

116.94

189.84

Isabelle Pieman | Ladies |

46.10

| did not advance  |

## Short track speed skating

[edit]

Main article: Short track speed skating at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Pieter Gysel competed in three short track speed skating events: the 500 meter, the 1,000 meter, and the 1,500 meter. This was his third Winter Olympics; he raced in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and the 2006 Olympics in Turin.[38]

Gysel hoped to finish in the top six of the 1,500 meter race, and thought he might medal.[39] There are six athletes per heat in the 1,500 meter, with the top three in each heat advancing to the next round. He finished with the 21st best time in the first round, finishing in 2:18.560. Gysel was second in his heat, behind Apolo Ohno, and advanced to the semifinals.[40] In the semifinals, there were seven athletes per heat, with the top two advancing to the A Final and the next two advancing to the B Final. Gysel was passed near the end of the race and finished fourth in his heat with a time of 2:16.249.[41] This placed him in the B finals, and the best he could finish was seventh place.[42] He finished third in his finals heat with a time of 2:18.773, which placed him ninth overall in the 1500 meter race.[43][44][45]

He drew a tough matchup in the 1,000 meter race: Sochi 1,500 meter gold medalist Lee Jung-Su and bronze medalist J.R. Celski.[46] He was in second place for most of the race, which would have advanced him to the quarterfinals. Towards the end of the race, he lost some speed coming out of a turn and was passed by Celski. Gysel was eliminated in the first round after finishing in 19th place, with a time of 1:25.113. Even though he had the seventh best time, he placed third in his heat and was eliminated from competition.[43][47]

Gysel came to the Olympics with the ambition to finish in the top eight in the 500 meter race. He finished second in his heat that featured two strong competitors: vice world champion Kwak Yoon-gy and Jordan Malone. Malone was considered one of the best in the world for this event.[43] Gysel was in third place during the final lap when Malone crashed. Gysel overtook him and finished second in the heat, with a time of 42.443 seconds. He advanced to the quarterfinals with the slowest time of those that advanced.[48][49] Gysel drew a difficult quarterfinal matchup, which featured the 2006 silver medalist, Canadian François-Louis Tremblay, and another round against Kwak. He was eliminated from the event in the quarterfinals. He placed last out of the four competitors; he needed to finish in the top two in order to advance to the semifinals.[50]

Key

* Q = Qualified for the next round
* QB = Qualified for B Final

Athlete  | Event  | Heat  | Quarterfinal  | Semifinal  | Final

|
|
|
|
|

Time  | Rank  | Time  | Rank  | Time  | Rank  | Time  | Rank
Pieter Gysel | 500m | 42.443  | 22 Q | 41.980  | 12  | did not advance
1000m | 1:25.613  | 19  | did not advance
1500m | 2:18.560  | 21 Q |  | 2:16.249  | 16 QB | 2:18.773  | 9

## See also

[edit]

* Belgium at the 2010 Winter Paralympics

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Belgium". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
2. ^ "Belgium at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
3. ^ "Belgium Bobsleigh Women's Two Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
4. ^ "21. Olympische Winterspiele eröffnet" [21st Winter Olympic Games opened] (in Dutch). VRT NWS. 13 February 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
5. ^ "Complete list of 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic flag-bearers". The Vancouver Sun. 12 February 2010. Archived from the original on 16 February 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
6. ^ "The Flagbearers for the Vancouver 2010 Closing Ceremony" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. 28 February 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
7. ^ "Summary of Quota allocation as per 18.01.2010" (PDF). International Ski Federation. 18 January 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
8. ^ "Karen Persyn Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
9. ^ "Alpine Skiing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Women's Slalom Run 1". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
10. ^ "Alpine Skiing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Women's Slalom Run 2". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
11. ^ "Alpine Skiing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Women's Slalom". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
12. ^ "Alpine Skiing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Men's Slalom". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
13. ^ "Belgium Alpine Skiing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
14. ^ "Bart Mollin Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
15. ^ "Jeroen Van Den Bogaert Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
16. ^ "Alpine Skiing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Men's Slalom Run 1". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
17. ^ "Alpine Skiing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Men's Slalom Run 2". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 10 March 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
18. ^ "Alpine Skiing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Men's Slalom". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
19. ^ "Belgium Bobsleigh at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
20. ^ "Elfje Willemsen Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
21. ^ "Eva Willemarck Bio, Stats, and Results". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
22. ^ a b "Bobsleigh at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Women's Two". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
23. ^ "Bobsleigh at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Women's Two Run 1". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
24. ^ "Bobsleigh at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Women's Two Run 2". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
25. ^ "Bobsleigh at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Women's Two Runs 1-2". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 20 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
26. ^ "Bobsleigh at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Women's Two Run 3". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
27. ^ "Bobsleigh at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Women's Two Run 4". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
28. ^ "Kevin Van der Perren". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
29. ^ "Kan Van Der Perren een olympische medaille pakken?" [Can Van Der Perren take an Olympic medal?]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 22 January 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
30. ^ "Kevin Van der Perren: 'Mijn beste korte kür ooit'" [Kevin Van der Perren: 'My best short freestyle ever'] (in Dutch). De Standaard. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
31. ^ "Kevin Van der Perren eindigt 17e na vrije kür" [Kevin Van der Perren finishes 17th after freestyle] (in Dutch). Gazet Van Antwerpen. 19 February 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
32. ^ "Kevin van der Perren op de Winterspelen" [Kevin van der Perren at the Winter Games] (in Dutch). De Morgen. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
33. ^ "Figure Skating at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Men's Singles". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
34. ^ "Isabelle Pieman is klaar voor olympische vuurdoop" [Isabelle Pieman is ready for Olympic baptism] (in Dutch). De Standaard. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
35. ^ "Isabelle Pieman oefent eerste keer in het Pacific Coliseum" [Isabelle Pieman practices for the first time in the Pacific Coliseum]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 17 February 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
36. ^ "Isabelle Pieman terug van Olympische Winterspelen" [Isabelle Pieman back from Olympic Winter Games] (in Dutch). Bruzz. 11 March 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
37. ^ "Pieman ondanks persoonlijk record meteen out" [Pieman immediately out despite personal record] (in Dutch). Gazet Van Antwerpen. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
38. ^ "Pieter Gysel". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
39. ^ "Shorttracker Gysel finisht pas negende in eerste wedstrijd" [Shorttracker Gysel only finishes ninth in his first event] (in Dutch). De Morgen. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
40. ^ "Short Track Speed Skating at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Men's 1,500 metres Round One". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
41. ^ "Short Track Speed Skating at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Men's 1,500 metres Semi-Finals". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
42. ^ "Belgium's best hope for a medal dashed". VRT News. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
43. ^ a b c "Shorttracker Pieter Gysel naar kwartfinale na val Amerikaan" [Shorttracker Pieter Gysel to quarter-finals after American Falls] (in Dutch). De Morgen. 25 February 2010. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
44. ^ "Gysel eindigt pas negende op 1.500 meter shorttrack" [Gysel only finishes ninth on a 1,500 meter short track] (in Dutch). Gazet Van Antwerpen. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
45. ^ "Short Track Speed Skating at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Men's 1,500 metres Final Round". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
46. ^ "Zware loting voor shorttracker Pieter Gysel op 1000 m" [Heavy draw for short tracker Pieter Gysel at 1000 m] (in Dutch). De Morgen. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
47. ^ "Fout in slotmeters kost Pieter Gysel plaats in kwartfinale" [Pieter Gysel is the final in quarter finals]. De Morgen. 18 February 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
48. ^ "Pieter Gysel: 'Kwartfinale wordt bijzonder moeilijk'" [Pieter Gysel: 'Quarter-final becomes very difficult']. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 25 February 2010. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
49. ^ "Short Track Speed Skating at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games: Men's 500 metres Round One". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
50. ^ "Shorttracker Pieter Gysel uitgeschakeld in kwartfinale" [Shorttracker Pieter Gysel eliminated in quarterfinals] (in Dutch). Gazet Van Antwerpen. 27 February 2010. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.

* v
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Belgium at the Olympics

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National Olympic Committees at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada

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*[SP]: Short program
*[OD]: Original dance
*[FS]: Free skating
*[FD]: Free dance
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