The historic 50th edition of the Memorial Van Damme, held 4 and 5 September at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, also doubled up as this season’s Diamond League final.
Reigning Olympic Champion Winfred Yavi went into the women’s 3000m Steeplechase final with the third-fastest mark of the season (8:51.54). After a hard-fought battle down the closing stretch that saw four women finish under 9:00 minutes, Yavi finished 3rd with a time of 8:53.54, behind Faith Chepkoech (8:51.61) and Doris Lemngole (8:52.86).
In her first-ever Diamond League final, Pauline Couckuyt produced yet another highlight of her breakthrough season in the 400m hurdles, finishing a close 3rd in 53.20, behind Anna Cockrel (53.01) and Emma Zapletalova (53.10). Couckuyt’s time further improved her previous national record on 53.28, set at this year’s Lausanne Diamond League meeting. She now ranks 7th on the 2026 world 400m hurdles performance chart and 2nd among Europeans.
Other noteworthy performances were made by Ruben Querinjean, 4th place in the men’s 3000m Steeplechase (8:11.97), and Oratile Nowe, 4th place in the women’s 800m (1:59.75).
Other Golazo-managed athletes competing in Brussels included Merel Maes, 7th in the High Jump (1.84m); Saliyya Guisse, 7th in the Triple Jump (13.33m); Noor Vidts, 7th in the Long Jump (6.23m); Prudence Sekgodiso, 8th in the 800m (2:02.34); Marte Alemayo, 9th in the 5000m (14:40.27); Remi Schyns, 11th in the 3000m Steeplechase (8:21.53); and Rani Rosius, 7th in the Invitational 100m (11.36).