According to reports from Cardano al Campo, Belgium’s delegation secured 11 medals at the European Speed Skating Championships in Italy, matching their total from the previous year while long-distance events and the marathon remained on the schedule. The competition, held near Milan’s Malpensa airport, featured 21 Belgian skaters, highlighted by multiple gold medals from Bart Swings and a bronze finish by Fran Vanhouttes on the penultimate day.
Bart Swings Claims Multiple Titles in Italy
Bart Swings continued his dominance at the European Speed Skating Championships by capturing his fifth title in Italy, according to race results. Swings won the 10-kilometer points race with 17 points, finishing 7 points ahead of Portuguese skater Miguel Bravo and 9 points ahead of French competitor Martin Ferrié. Fellow Belgians Indra Médard and Tom Mulder placed 9th and 14th respectively in the same event.
Earlier in the competition on the track in Cardano al Campo, Swings earned gold in the 10-kilometer elimination race, the 1,000-meter sprint, and the 5,000-meter event where he defeated Spain’s Francisco Peula and Italy’s Alessio Clementoni. On the road circuit, Swings added another victory in the 15-kilometer elimination race, beating French runner-up Victor Aerts by half a second, while Portugal’s Miguel Bravo took third.
Did you know?
Bart Swings secured his 16th career European title on the opening day of the championships on the track in Cardano al Campo before continuing his gold medal streak across multiple distances.
Fran Vanhoutte Secures Bronze on Penultimate Day
Fran Vanhoutte added a bronze medal to the Belgian tally on the second-to-last day of the championships, according to tournament reporting. Competing in the one-lap race, Vanhoutte finished behind French winner Manon Fraboulet and runner-up Alice Socionovo.
Vanhoutte’s podium finish followed earlier success earlier in the week when she claimed bronze in the 500-meter event. That earlier race required navigating a chaotic semifinal where a second-place finish secured her spot in the final, ultimately won by Italy’s Alice Sorcionovo and Valentina Buccolini.
Relay Success and Team Podium Finishes
The Belgian team also found success in relay events on the track, according to event standings. Bart Swings teamed up with Indra Médard and Sietse Troost to take bronze in the relay, finishing behind teams from Spain and France.
An upset victory came from the youngest boys’ squad—consisting of Leander Deroye, Briek De Weweire, Staf Trekels, and Joren Verleye—who captured the 3-kilometer relay title. Additionally, the slightly older youth category team of Lenn Kusters, Vik Reynaerts, Fons Trekels, and Tuur Haezaert secured a bronze medal in their relay event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where were the European Speed Skating Championships held?
The event took place in Cardano al Campo, Italy, located near Milan’s Malpensa airport.
How many medals did Belgium win at the championships?
The Belgian delegation captured 11 medals during the tournament, matching their medal count from the previous year before the final long-distance events and marathon.
Which events did Bart Swings win?
Bart Swings won multiple gold medals, including the 5,000-meter race, the 1,000-meter sprint, the 10-kilometer points race, the 10-kilometer elimination race, and the 15-kilometer elimination race on the road.
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