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Paulien Couckuyt sets Belgian record at Memorial Van Damme

On the first day of the 50th edition of the Memorial Van Damme, Paulien Couckuyt set a Belgian record and finished third in the 400 meters hurdles.

4 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Paulien Couckuyt sets Belgian record at Memorial Van Damme — Photo: filip bossuyt from Kortrijk, Belgium · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

The 50th edition of the Memorial Van Damme kicked off in the evening at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. This annual athletics meeting serves as the final of the Diamond League this year and is spread over two days.

On the first day, six meeting records were broken, making the competition particularly special. Paulien Couckuyt, a Belgian athlete, was one of the stars of the evening, setting a Belgian record in the 400 meters hurdles.

Paulien Couckuyt, 29 years old, achieved this record in front of an enthusiastic audience. She finished third in her race, contributing to the festive atmosphere.

Archive photo: Paulien Couckuyt sets Belgian record at Memorial Van Damme — Archive photoPhoto: Joni-Fuego · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

There was some disappointment due to the withdrawal of prominent athlete Armand Duplantis, who had been announced as the main attraction. This news did not sit well with the attending fans, who were looking forward to his participation.

Nevertheless, Couckuyt's performance brought joy to the spectators. During her victory lap, she felt like a 'world star' and couldn't hide her happiness. Finally, she mentioned that she could really use the prize money, a comment that underscored her enthusiasm.

The Memorial Van Damme promises to remain exciting with more events and athletes competing for the highest honors in athletics.

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