Nafi Thiam Breaks Silence: Tokyo 2025 ‘a Disgrace’
Belgian heptathlon icon Nafissatou Thiam has spoken publicly for the first time about the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, describing the events surrounding her withdrawal as “a disgrace” and revealing that she has never received an apology from the federation. The triple Olympic champion broke her silence in an interview with La Libre Belgique on June 29, 2026, following her competitive return at the Ratingen Mehrkampf-Meeting in Germany.
The ‘Nafigate’ Controversy
The dispute, dubbed “Nafigate” by Belgian media, erupted in September 2025 when Thiam refused to sign a new code of conduct imposed by Belgian Athletics. The code would have prevented the 31-year-old from displaying her personal sponsors during competitions — sponsors that competed directly with the federation’s own commercial partners. As a globally recognized athlete with lucrative personal sponsorship deals, Thiam argued she should retain control over her own commercial image.
The conflict reached its peak at the World Championships in Tokyo, where Thiam withdrew from the heptathlon on September 20, 2025, after a disappointing long jump on Day 2. She was seen in tears on the track. The fallout was immediate and severe: Gery Follens, chairman of Athletics Flanders, resigned in October 2025, citing the toll on his physical and mental well-being.
According to RTBF, Thiam stated bluntly: “There is absolutely no trust in the Federation given that there has been no change.” She emphasized that she needed written guarantees that she would be safe from “abuse of power” and “intimidation” before she could compete again.
A Hard-Won Agreement
After months of mediation by Christophe Delecluse of the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (COIB), Thiam and Belgian Athletics signed a written agreement on June 26, 2026. The DH Les Sports+ reported that the agreement provides Thiam with personal guarantees for her participation in future championships, including the European Championships in Birmingham in August 2026.
However, Thiam made clear that this is not a restoration of trust. “Did I receive an apology? No, never,” she told La Libre Belgique. She stressed that the agreement is “simply guarantees for me, it is not a code of conduct or commercial agreements.”
Jessica Mayon, president of the French-speaking wing LBFA, confirmed the deal but urged discretion: “The different parties have agreed to preserve the renewed serenity by refraining from any comment.”
A Cautious Return to Competition
Thiam made her competitive return at the Ratingen Mehrkampf-Meeting in Germany on June 27-28, 2026, finishing second before withdrawing from the 200m to protect her hamstrings. She described the weekend as a “soulagement” (relief), telling RTBF: “The goal of this weekend was really to have fun, to have that feeling of being in competition, of being on the track, of being a bit in that atmosphere.”
The return comes after a hamstring tear in April 2026 delayed her season. She is scheduled to compete in the long jump at the Meeting de Liège on July 15, 2026.
What’s Next for Thiam?
Thiam remains non-committal about the European Championships in Birmingham (August 14-15, 2026). “It’s not an objective in itself,” she said. “European Championships, I’ve done many. I think doing one or two more or less won’t change anything in my career.”
Her focus, she insists, is on rebuilding her relationship with the sport. “I want to be able to go back to a championship and have a good experience,” she said. “I really hope that I will be well for Birmingham.”
The agreement with Belgian Athletics has paved the way for her to compete under the Belgian flag, but the underlying tensions remain. The Belga News Agency reported that the controversy exposed deep rifts between the Flemish and French-speaking wings of Belgian Athletics, and the federation has yet to undergo the leadership changes Thiam says are necessary for genuine reconciliation.
Analysis: A Temporary Truce
While the signed agreement allows Thiam to compete, the fundamental issues remain unresolved. Thiam’s explicit statement that she has “no trust” in the federation suggests this is a temporary truce rather than a lasting peace. Without changes in federation leadership or culture — and without the apology Thiam says she has never received — the risk of future conflict remains high.
For Thiam, now 31 and approaching the later stages of her career, the priority is clear: rediscovering the joy of competition. Whether that journey leads to Birmingham, the 2027 World Championships, or even the 2028 Olympics will depend as much on the federation’s willingness to rebuild trust as on Thiam’s own physical recovery.