A year after winning the bronze medal in the marathon at the Tokyo Olympic Games, Bashir Abdi confirmed his talent with a third place at the World Athletics Championships.
© Belga
Originally scheduled for August 2021, the World Athletics Championships were postponed by a year following the rescheduling of the 2020 Summer Olympics to 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The competitions are taking place in Eugene, Oregon, USA, until 24 July.
His eighth marathon saw Bashir Abdi win a third medal in a major championship after silver at the 2018 European Athletics Championships and bronze at last year's Tokyo Olympics.
Setting off alone at the 33rd kilometre, Ethiopian Tamirat Tola quickly built up a good lead that his pursuers were unable to catch. The Belgian led the chase with another Ethiopian but was himself outrun by four seconds in the last kilometre of the race.
Finishing the 42.195 km course in 2.06:48, the Ghent-based runner was beaten only by Ethiopians Tamirat Tola, world champion in 2.05:37 (also setting the new Championship record), and Mosinet Geremew, silver medallist in 2.06:44.
We should also note the very honourable 30th place achieved by Thomas De Bock in 2.11:54, just 27 seconds off his personal best.
Bashir Abdi has given Belgium its first medal in these World Championships and the 9th in its history (also the first in a marathon)!
