Belgian Olympians celebrated in Brussels

Thousands of fans braved the heat to see their favourite Olympic athletes up close. Long before the official start of the ceremony, Belgian fans started filling up the Grand-Place in Brussels, chanting “Nafi” (Thiam), “Remco” (Evenepoel) and “Sarah” (Chaâri), waving Belgian flags and just all around having a good time with their fellow Belgians. As if it weren’t warm enough already, the duo Omdat Het Kan and Average Rob proverbially set the crowd on fire with a solid half hour of classic party anthems and the song they made for the Olympics, On Met La Patate. 

Some had been home for a while already, others were fresh off the train from Paris, but one by one the heroes who defended our colours showed up on the balcony of the town hall to thunderous applause. 

The presentation started with those athletes who finished within the top 8 in their disciplines, saving the biggest medals for last. Nevertheless, even the first athletes were received with loud applause, appreciation and chanting. A standout moment was the appearance of the Belgian Cats (the women’s basketball team), who were received as if they had taken home a medal, and who were clearly overcome with emotion. 

Following the Cats, it was time for our esteemed medallists: 

• Bronze: the young taekwondo star Sarah Chaâri; omnium athlete Fabio Van den Bossche, judoka Gabriella Willems and heptathlete Noor Vidts. Wout van Aert and Lotte Kopecky excused themselves from the ceremony. 

• Silver: Bashir Abdi, who finished second in the marathon and had the whole crowd wrapped around his finger. 

• Gold: Nafi Thiam made the decibels among the crowd rise to a whole other level, and wonderchild Remco Evenepoel got the last word, ending the ceremony in style: with a mic drop. 

The party continued with Belgian dj Henri PFR, and the athletes came to sign for fans in the crowd. 

A beautiful celebration completed with Belgian panache. Focus on Belgium extend their heartfelt, warmest congratulations to the Belgian Olympians.