16-Year-Old Amélie Coenen Stuns Nafi Thiam at Belgian Champs

KESSEL-LO, Belgium — In one of the most remarkable upsets in Belgian athletics history, 16-year-old Amélie Coenen defeated three-time Olympic champion Nafissatou “Nafi” Thiam to win gold in the women’s long jump at the Belgian Athletics Championships (BK Atletiek) in Kessel-Lo on July 25-26. The teenager’s winning leap of 6.24 meters on her final attempt not only secured the national title but shattered the Belgian U18 record that had stood for nearly 37 years.

Coenen, from Ham in the province of Limburg and representing AV Toekomst (AVT) in Heusden-Zolder, improved her personal best by 15 centimeters to claim victory. Thiam, the three-time Olympic heptathlon champion — winning gold in 2016, 2020, and 2024 — finished second with a jump of 6.13 meters, a result reflecting her ongoing recovery from a hamstring tear suffered at the end of April.

A Dramatic Final Round

Coenen’s path to gold was far from smooth. After struggling through her early attempts and recording a no-jump in the third round, a top result appeared unlikely. “My first attempts didn’t go as hoped and I lost some of my confidence,” she told VRT NWS. “With a no-jump in the third round, a top result seemed far away. I was only just among the last eight who got to do six jumps.”

However, the young athlete found her rhythm when it mattered most. Her fifth jump showed improvement, and on her sixth and final attempt, everything clicked: 6.24 meters. The jump not only secured gold but erased the long-standing Belgian U18 record of 6.23 meters set by Sandrine Hennart nearly 37 years ago.

“Breaking the Belgian record was on my list of goals I wanted to achieve this year,” Coenen said. “So I’m very pleased with it, it made my day.” The teenager admitted she had assumed gold was out of reach once she learned Thiam was competing. “I had secretly counted on a medal,” she said. “But as soon as I knew Nafi Thiam would participate, I thought gold was out of the question and that silver or bronze would be the highest achievable.”

After the competition, Thiam congratulated the young champion — a gesture Coenen described as “very nice.”

Thiam’s Recovery Continues

For Nafi Thiam, widely regarded as one of Belgium’s greatest-ever athletes, the silver medal reflects a challenging period rather than any decline in her ability. The hamstring tear suffered in late April significantly disrupted her preparation for the national championships.

“It was a difficult competition,” Thiam said. “I was more consistent than two weeks ago in Liège, but had little juice in my legs. After a tough week of training, the fatigue was still there.”

Thiam added that her training is progressing and that her hamstring is recovering well. She also made her position clear regarding the upcoming European Athletics Championships in Birmingham (August 10-16): “That European Championship is really not a goal for me. I’m a three-time European champion and a new participation or title won’t change anything about my record or my life. My goal is first and foremost to become completely fit.”

Her management has indicated the Decastar meeting in Talence, France (September 18-19) as a more realistic competitive target.

A Rising Star in Belgian Athletics

Coenen’s victory signals the emergence of a significant new talent. Already a consistent performer at Flemish and Belgian youth championships in both high jump and long jump, her multi-discipline strengths — including hurdles, the 200 meters, and high jump — suggest potential as a future heptathlete.

Her next target is the Belgian Combined Events Championships (BK Meerkampen) on August 8-9. “If I could win a title there, my season would truly be complete,” she said. “Long jump is my strongest discipline, but hurdles and the 200 meters are also strong events for me. I’ve also been strong in high jump, but I still need to sharpen that up.”

Looking Ahead

The upset comes amid a strong period for Belgian athletics, with multiple athletes achieving European Championship qualification at the BK. Coenen’s emergence could strengthen Belgium’s already impressive tradition in combined events, following in the footsteps of Thiam and fellow heptathlete Noor Vidts.

While the young star from Limburg has downplayed her achievement — “I think I just had a lot of luck” — the Belgian athletics community recognizes the significance of the moment. A 16-year-old defeating a three-time Olympic champion in any discipline is the kind of story that captures national attention and signals generational change.

For Thiam, the path forward is clear: full recovery comes first, competition results second. The European Championships in Birmingham are not a priority, but a focused return to fitness could see her competitive again in the autumn. For Coenen, the Combined Events Championships later this month offer the next opportunity to prove her stunning gold was no fluke.