Van Bellinghen: A Distinguished Career in International Weightlifting
Van Bellinghen has established herself as a prominent figure in Belgian weightlifting, competing at the highest levels of international sport for nearly a decade. Specializing in the heavier weight classes, her career is marked by consistent appearances at World and European Championships, as well as the prestigious Olympic Games.
Weightlifting competitions typically consist of two primary lifts: the Snatch, where the barbell is lifted from the floor to overhead in one fluid motion, and the Clean & Jerk, a two-stage lift where the bar is first brought to the shoulders and then pushed overhead.
Key Facts
- Nationality: Belgian
- Olympic Experience: Competed in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, finishing 11th in the +87 kg category.
- Major Gold Medal: Won gold at the FISU World University Weightlifting Championships in 2018.
- European Success: Multiple medalist at the European Junior & U23 and Senior Weightlifting Championships.
- Versatility: Competed across various weight categories including 75 kg, 81 kg, 87 kg, 90 kg, and +87 kg.
Early Career and Rise (2013–2015)
Van Bellinghen first gained international visibility at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia, where she placed 12th in the women's 75 kg event. By 2015, she began securing podium finishes, earning a bronze medal in the Clean & Jerk at the European Junior & U23 Weightlifting Championships in Klaipeda, Lithuania, competing in the under-23 +75 kg category.
That same year, she expanded her experience by competing in the women's +75 kg event at the World Weightlifting Championships in Houston, United States.
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Establishing International Presence (2017–2018)
In 2017, Van Bellinghen showed significant improvement at the Summer Universiade in Taipei, Taiwan, securing a 5th place finish in the 90 kg event. Her momentum continued at the European Junior & U23 Weightlifting Championships in Durrës, Albania, where she claimed a bronze medal in the under-23 90 kg category.
The year 2017 was a period of intense competition, as she also participated in the European Weightlifting Championships in Split, Croatia, and the World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim, United States, both in the 90 kg class.
By 2018, she reached a career milestone by winning the gold medal in the women's 90 kg event at the FISU World University Weightlifting Championships in Biała Podlaska, Poland. She also competed in the European Championships in Bucharest, Romania, and the World Championships in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, moving to the 81 kg category for the latter.
Peak Performance and Olympic Journey (2019–2021)
The 2019 European Weightlifting Championships in Batumi, Georgia, proved to be a landmark event. Van Bellinghen initially won a bronze medal in the 81 kg event, which was later upgraded to silver following the disqualification of gold medalist Eleni Konstantinidi. Additionally, she won gold in the Snatch and bronze in the Clean & Jerk.
Later in 2019, she earned bronze in the 87 kg event at the British International Open in Coventry. At the World Weightlifting Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, she successfully lifted 99 kg in the Snatch but was unable to record a successful result in the Clean & Jerk.
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In 2020, she secured three bronze medals (overall, Snatch, and Clean & Jerk) in the 81 kg event at the Roma 2020 World Cup. This period culminated in her representation of Belgium at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, where she finished 11th in the +87 kg event.
Her recent competitive history includes a 7th place finish in the +87 kg event at the 2021 European Weightlifting Championships in Moscow and a 7th place finish in the 81 kg event at the 2021 World Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Career Summary Table
| Year | Competition | Event/Category | Result/Medal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | European Junior & U23 Championships | Under-23 +75 kg | Bronze (Clean & Jerk) |
| 2017 | Summer Universiade | 90 kg | 5th Place |
| 2017 | European Junior & U23 Championships | Under-23 90 kg | Bronze |
| 2018 | FISU World University Championships | 90 kg | Gold |
| 2019 | European Weightlifting Championships | 81 kg | Silver (Overall), Gold (Snatch), Bronze (C&J) |
| 2020 | Roma 2020 World Cup | 81 kg | Bronze (Overall, Snatch, C&J) |
| 2020 | Summer Olympics (Tokyo) | +87 kg | 11th Place |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Olympic Games did Van Bellinghen participate in?
Van Bellinghen represented Belgium at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, competing in the women's +87 kg event.
What is her highest achievement at a World University level?
She won the gold medal in the women's 90 kg event at the FISU World University Weightlifting Championships in 2018.
How did the 2019 European Weightlifting Championships results change?
Her original bronze medal in the 81 kg event was upgraded to silver after the original gold medalist, Eleni Konstantinidi, tested positive for prohibited substances.
In which weight categories has she competed?
Throughout her career, she has competed in the 75 kg, 81 kg, 87 kg, 90 kg, and +87 kg categories.
What happened during her 2019 World Weightlifting Championships appearance?
Competing in the 81 kg event in Pattaya, Thailand, she successfully lifted 99 kg in the Snatch but failed to register a successful result in the Clean & Jerk.