Paralympic Team Belgium Guide.Pdf

Home , H4 (classification), Laurens Devos, Marieke Vervoort, Peter Genyn, Sven Decaesstecker, UCI Road World Cup

paralympic team belgium GUIDE powered by rio / 7-18 sept

follow our athletes at

paralympic.Be BEparalympics Rio de Janeiro

TABle of contents

4 Foreword President and Secretary General BPC 5 Foreword Chef de Mission 6 Map Rio 8 About Rio 2016 9 Paralympic Team Belgium 10 Athletics 14 Boccia 18 Cycling 24 Para-equestrian 28 Swimming 32 Table tennis 36 Wheelchair Tennis 41 Belgium and the Paralympic Summer Games 42 Our Team 43 Our partners

Realisation BPC Avenue de Boechoutlaan 9 – 1020 Bruxelles/Brussel Responsible Publisher Anne d’Ieteren – President BPC Editing Antoine Collard (BPC), Guillaume Gobert (BPC), Jeroen Bauters (Parantee), Thomas Degryse (LHF) Pictures Luc Dequick, Olivier Papegnies, Frank Van Hollebeke, BPC, ROCOG, Marcus Hartmann, Tennis Foundation Graphic Design FootballHeroes

2 © ROCOG 3 foreword foreword

ore than 4000 athletes from all ooking ahead to the upcoming over the world will converge in Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the M Rio de Janeiro from September L excitement of these Games is 7 until September 18, for the 15th edition growing in the hearts of our athletes as of the Paralympic Summer Games. After their minds remain focused on their final the tremendous success of London preparations. The feeling of living for Rio 2012, these first South American Games 2016, of Rio giving them the necessary will be the measure of how far the energy to overcome their daily Paralympic Movement has come these challenges, is the feeling that has driven past years. our team towards these Games. As this guide will illustrate, Belgium can be Of course, we all realize the efforts and proud of the direction that has been taken sacrifices our athletes had to make Anne d’Ieteren by its national Paralympic competitors. to finally claim their official selection Olek Kazimirowski President BPC Chef de Mission Rio 2016 President LHF For one thing, our athletes worked hard, in the Paralympic Team Belgium. This not only to meet the international criteria, selection process was far from easy as but also to achieve the very strict national many athletes, who all live for their sport, ones. Both the consistent professionalism demonstrated their level of excellence “ It is all of us, of every top-level athlete in Belgium and in the last four years of international looking in the the improvement of the talent detection competitions. same direction and system have contributed to the success of We have high expectations for our the road to Rio. This wouldn’t be possible striving for the same athletes! As we list the potential medals without the significant and essential and finals our athletes should be able dream, that makes us help of our loyal private and institutional to attain, we are actually looking at a real Team. ” partners, as well as our NOC, which every single sport in which Belgian all have proven to be unquestioning Marc Vergauwen athletes will compete in Rio. This gives Secretary general BPC supporters of the Paralympic Movement. us a supplementary confidence over the President Parantee The recent regretful doping issues within accomplished work of the past four years. the Paralympic Movement force us to commit more than ever to clean, fair and But obviously, our athletes will not come honest competition. We sincerely see this to compete on their own. They will be struggle as crucial to a credible and strong constantly advised and encouraged by future for the Paralympic Sport. their coaches and all accompanying staff members whom I also wish to thank for Dear athletes, Belgium is standing their efforts in working together to achieve behind you. The unprecedented media the same goals. It is all of us, looking in coverage of the Rio 2016 Paralympic the same direction and striving for the Games will create a bridge between same dream, that makes us a real Team. our country and South America, and allow everybody to encourage you day So, let’s show the world a proud by day. So give it all, push your limits, Paralympic Team Belgium with high- enjoy the Games atmosphere and with quality athletes as well as a great this extraordinary experience, results will medal-appetite! follow.

4 5 QR-CODE

plan rio Existing venues venues CONSTRUCTED FOR RIO 2016 temporary venues

Learn more BARRA about the 4 clusters on our website

olympic and paralympic village riocentro paralympic sports : powerlifting, sitting volleyball, table tennis

IBC-International broadcast centre mpC - Main Press Center

rio olympic park paralympic sports : boccia, cycling track, FOOtball 5-a-side, goalball, judo, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair ruby, wheelchair tennis

golf reserva marapendi venue only used for olympicS

deodoro

national equestrian centre paralympic sport : para-equestrian

deodoro modern pentathlon park paralympic sport : football 7-a-side

deodoro arena paralympic sport : fencing

national shooting centre paralympic sport : shooting

x-park venue only used for olympicS

maracanÃ COPACABANA COPACABANA STADIUM venue only used for olympicS joÃo havelange stadium MARACANÃZINHO arena MARINA DE GLÓRIA paralympic sport : athletics venue only used for olympicS paralympic sport : sailing FORT COPACABANA Paralympic sport : triathlon maracanÃ STADIUM SAMBÓDROMO FLAMENGO PARK Opening & Closing Ceremony paralympic sport : archery paralympic sport : LAGOA RODRIGO DE FREITAS Cycling road race & paralympic sports : time trial (moved to Pontal) Canoe, rowing 6 7 QR-CODE QR-CODE Olympic Park about

Learn more Learn more wheelchair rugby teams did not make about Rio about our Team on our website on our website it to the Paralympic Team Belgium. The prominence of women – 34.5% in Rio compared to 5% in Beijing 8 years ago – is also an important sign of the evolution of Paralympic sports in our © ROCOG country. Maracana With four defending world champions About Rio 2016 About the Paralympic and two European champions on its Team Belgium team, our country has every reason to be ambitious and to expect an even his Brazilian city, with its stun- he Belgian Paralympic better result than in London four years ning landmarks, will provide a Committee, Parantee and the ago. The Belgian Paralympic Commit- T perfect backdrop for the first T Ligue Handisport Francophone tee's goal is 8 medals and a top 40 ever edition of the South American will count on a strong delegation spot in the nation’s ranking. Olympic & Paralympic Games. The of 29 athletes in Rio, in 8 different This high ambition is the result Rio 2016 Organizing Committee com- sports. and the proof of our country's hard mits itself to "deliver excellent Games, The number of athletes performing work over the past four years., with memorable celebrations that will in individual sports is very compar- participating in the large international promote the global image of Brazil, tries will travel to Rio to compete in able to the London games and even professionalization process that was underpinned by social and urban sus- 528 medal events in 23 different slightly higher, yet our goalball and already activated before London. tainable transformation through sport, sports. Canoe and triathlon will be contributing to the growth of the included in the Paralympic Games Paralympic Schedule Olympic and Paralympic Movements." program for the first time. Of the total e Events Medal Events number of athletes set to take part, Rio 2016 is also making an effort in approximately 1,650 will be women - a SEPTEMBER 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 improving accessibility standards 9.9 per cent increase on London 2012 Ceremonies ★ ★ throughout the city. The aim is that and more than double the 790 who all public transportation systems took part in the Atlanta 1996 Games. Athletics in the city of Rio de Janeiro will Boccia e e e e e be offeringfull accessibility, and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games : Cycling Road the accessibility standards of the International Paralympic Committee Over 4000 athletes Cycling Track

(IPC) will be enforced in all new 23 sports Equestrian hotels in the city, with the purpose of 21 venues e e encompassing at least 1 per cent of 176 countries Swimming all rooms available in Rio de Janeiro. 528 medal events Table Tennis e e e e e 3,300,00 tickets Wheelchair Tennis Over 4000 athletes from 176 coun- 4,100,000,000 expected TV viewers e e e e

8 9 QR-CODE © Marcus Hartmann Livia De Clercq athletics

Learn more about Paralympic Athletics on our website

Team Support

Peter Genyn © Marcus Hartmann

Mieke Van Thuyne Coach Athletics

Athletics has been part of the Paralympic program since the Paralympic Games of Rome in 1960. This sport always attracts the largest number of spectators. The sport offers a wide range of competitions and events and is open to male and female athletes in all impairment groups (physical, visual, intellectual). The competitions will take place in the Olympic Stadium

10 11 athletics athletics

Livia De Clercq

Sport: athletics Discipline: long jump and 100m Classification: T42 Date of birth: 03/06/1982 Residence: Deinze Club: AC Deinze Marieke Vervoort Disability: left above knee amputation Origin of disability: bone tumor diagnosed in 1997, Sport: athletics amputation in 2008 Discipline: 100m and 400m Participation to Paralympic Games: first participation Classification: T52 in Rio 2016 Date of birth: 10/05/1979 Other best performances: World Championships Residence: Diest Doha 2015: 7th place long jump; Club: AC Lyra European Championships Grosseto 2016: 4th place Disability: paralysis long jump, 6th place 100m Origin of disability: progressive muscle disease Participation to Paralympic Games: London 2012: 1st place 100m, 2nd place 200m Other best performances: World Championships Doha 2015: 1st place 100m, Peter Genyn 1st place 200m (non-paralympic discipline), 1st place 400m; World record holder 400m, 800m, 1500m and Sport: athletics 5000m; European record holder 100m en 200m Discipline: 100m and 400m Classification: T51 Date of birth: 24/12/1976 Residence: Kalmthout Club: Wapper Disability: tetraplegia (cervical lesion) Origin of disability: diving accident in 1993 Participation to Paralympic Games: London 2012: 7th with wheelchair rugby team, Athens 2004: 6th with wheelchair rugby team Other best performances: World Championships Doha 2015: 1st place 100m, 1st place 400m; European Championships Swansea 2014: 2nd place 100m, 2nd place 400m; European Championships Grosseto 2016: 1st place 100m, 1st place 400m; World record holder 200m and 400m

12 13 athletics athletics

Joyce Lefevre Basile Meunier Sport: athletics Sport: athletics Discipline: 1500m Discipline: 100m, 400m and 800m Classification: T38 Classification: T34 Date of birth: 28/11/1981 Date of birth: 28/6/1988 Residence: Jamoigne Residence: Deurne Club: ASCTR / DAMP Club: Wapper / Sprint Breda Disability: cerebral palsy Disability: cerebral palsy Origin of disability: lack of oxygen at birth Origin of disability: congenital Participations to Paralympic Games: Participations to Paralympic Games: first participation in Rio 2016 first participation in Rio 2016 Best performances: World Championships Doha Other best performances: European Championships 2015: 9th 1500m, European Championships Grosseto Grosseto 2016: 3rd (/3) 100m , 3rd (/3) 400m 2016: 8th 1500m, 7th 800m; European Championships Swansea 2014: 4th 800m and 1500m

14 15 QR-CODE

boccia

Learn more about Boccia © Olivier Papegnies on our website Team Support

Boccia is a uniquely mixed gender Paralympic sport, similar to the French sport of ‘jeu de boules’ or ‘petanque’. It is played indoors, over six rounds, by athletes with cerebral palsy and other similar non-progressive conditions. Focus and accuracy are the main challenges. The athletes aim to throw or roll leather balls as close as possible to a white target Davy Moons ball called the ‘jack’. Coach

Nico Cilissen Competition partner

Pieter Cilissen

Boccia Luc Verwimp Competition partner © ROCOG

Johan De Laender Venue Carioca Arena 2 Competition partner Gold medals 7

16 17 boccia boccia

Kenneth Verwimp

Sport: boccia Discipline: pair and individual Classification: BC3 Competition partner: Luc Verwimp Date of birth: 31/10/1993 Residence: Westerlo Club: IE-sport Pieter Cilissen Disability: duchenne muscular dystrophy Origin of disability: congenital Sport: boccia Participation to Paralympic Games: Discipline: pair and individual first participation in Rio 2016 BC3 Best performances: European Championships Classification: st Competition partner: Nico Cilissen Guildford 2015: 1 place pair (with Julie Lamberechts 03/01/1978 and Pieter Cilissen); World Open Poznan 2015: Date of birth: th Sint-Pieters-Woluwe 6 place pair (with Julie Lamberechts and Pieter Residence: th Club: Wapper Cilissen); World Open Cali 2015: 6 place pair (with Disability: cerebral palsy Julie Lamberechts and Pieter Cilissen) Origin of disability: congenital Participation to Paralympic Games: London 2012: 3rd place pair (with Kirsten De Laender and Pieter Verlinden), individual: out in round of 16; Sydney 2000: pair: out in group stage (with Jean-Luc Kirsten De Laender Béro), individual: out in quarter finals Other best performances: Sport: boccia World Championships Beijing 2014: 5th individual; Discipline: pair European Championships Guildford 2015: 1st place Classification: BC3 pair (with Julie Lamberechts and Kenneth Verwimp); Competition partner: Johan De Laender World Open Poznan 2015: 6th place pair (with Julie Date of birth: 22/07/1993 Lamberechts and Kenneth Verwimp); World Open Residence: Herzele Cali 2015: 6th place pair (with Julie Lamberechts and Club: Somival Kenneth Verwimp) Disability: cerebral palsy Origin of disability: congenital Participation to Paralympic Games: London 2012: 3rd place pair (with Pieter Cilissen and Pieter Verlinden), individual: 6th Other best performances: World Championships Lisbon 2010: 3rd place pair; European Champion- ships Guimaraes 2013: 3rd place individual, 4th place pair; European Championships Povoa de Varzim 2009: 4th place pair

18 19 QR-CODE

cycling © Luc Dequick © Luc

Learn more about Para-Cycling (Road) on Paralympic cycling first appeared on the Games our website program in Seoul 1988 for road events and in Atlanta 1996 for track events. In Rio, Belgium will compete in both disciplines. Para-cyclists are divided into 4 Team Support classes for both women’s and men’s competitions. Depending on their physical impairment, riders

Learn more use a bicycle, tricycle or handbike, whilst visually about Para-Cycling (Track) on impaired athletes use a tandem with pilot. With our website athletes in the H2, H3 and H4 category, our country will also be represented in the handbike mixed team relay competition.

Remko Meeusen Coach

Kris Bosmans Hélène Vander Massen Coach Cycling

Ignace Clarysse Mecanic © ROCOG

Venues Rio Olympic Velodrome (Track) & Pontal (Road) Gold medals

20 Jonas Van de Steene 21 cycling cycling

Kris Bosmans Jean-François Deberg

Sport: cycling (bike) Sport: cycling (handbike) Discipline: track, time trial and road race Discipline: road race, time trial and team relay Classification: C3 Classification: MH3 Date of birth: 15/04/1980 Date of birth: 17/11/1981 Residence: Overijse Residence: Baelen Club: Feniks Club: Rolling Lions Disability: cerebral palsy Disability: paraplegic Origin of disability: thrombosis at age 18 Origin of disability: accident Participations to Paralympic Games: Participations to Paralympic Games: London 2012: 5th road race first participation in Rio 2016 Other best performances: Best performances: World Championships Notwill World Championships Roskilde 2011: 1st road race; 2015/Greenville 2014: 4th team relay; World Cup Ostend 2016: 1st road race; World Cup Bilbao 2016: 1st team relay; World Cup World Cup Pietermaritzburg 2015: 2nd road race; Segovia 2013: 3rd road race and time trial World Cup Elzach 2015: 2nd road race; World Cup Merano 2013: 1st road race; World Cup Segovia 2012: 3rd road race

22 23 cycling cycling

Diederick Schelfhout

Sport: cycling (bike) Discipline: track, time trial and road race Classification: C3 Date of birth: 26/12/1985 Residence: Erembodegem Club: Etixx – Quick-Step Disability: loss of function in muscles and nerve conduction (caused by burns) Origin of disability: motorcycle accident Christophe Hindricq Participations to Paralympic Games: first participation in Rio 2016 Sport: cycling (handbike) Best performances: World Championships Discipline: time trial, road race and team relay Track Apeldoorn 2015: 2nd 1km time trial; World Classification: MH2 Championships Track Aguascalientes 2014: 3rd Date of birth: 18/02/1965 1km time trial; UCI Road World Cup Maniago Residence: Pommeroeul 2015: 2nd time trial; UCI Road World Cup Yverdon- Club: Rolling Lions les-Bains 2015: 3rd time trial; UCI Road World Cup Disability: paraplegic Segovia 2014: 3rd road race Origin of disability: accident Participations to Paralympic Games: London 2012 (handbike): 7th time trial and 4th road race; Athens 2004: 6th with wheelchair rugby team Other best performances: World Championships Tim Celen Notwill 2015/Greenville 2014: 4th team relay; Sport: cycling (tricycle) World Championships 2011: 4th road race; Discipline: road race and time trial European Championships Alkmaar 2005: 1st road Classification: T2 race Date of birth: 26/02/1998 World Cup Bilbao 2016: 1st team relay Residence: Ham Club: Avalympics Disability: cerebral palsy Origin of disability: congenital Participations to Paralympic Games: first participation in Rio 2016 Best performances: World Championships Nottwil 2015: 5th road race; UCI Road World Cup Elzach 2015: 3rd road race, 5th time trial; UCI Road World Cup Pietermaritzburg 2015: 5th road race; UCI Road World Cup Bilbao 2016: 4th time trial, 5th road race

24 25 cycling

Griet Hoet

Sport: cycling (tandem) Discipline: track, time trial and road race Pilot: Anneleen Monsieur Classification: B3 Date of birth: 12/06/1978 Residence: Destelbergen Club: Feniks Disability: visually impaired Origin of disability: retinitis pigmentosa Participations to Paralympic Games: first in Rio 2016 Best performances: World Championships Monti- chiari 2016: 6th track 3km pursuit, 7th track 1km time trial; 2016: Belgian record 3km pursuit; 2016: Belgian record 1k time trial

Jonas Van de Steene

Sport: cycling (handbike) Discipline: time trial, road race and team relay Classification: H4 Date of birth: 15/02/1987 Residence: Zaffelare Club: Feniks Disability: paraplegic Origin of disability: thrombosis in 2012 Participations to Paralympic Games: first participation in Rio 2016 Best performances: World Championships Notwill 2015/Greenville 2014: 4th team relay; World Cup Pietermaritzburg 2015: 3rd road race, 2nd time trial, 2nd team relay; World Cup Bilbao 2016: 1st team relay; World Cup Elzach 2015: 2nd team relay

26 official partner QR-CODE © Luc Dequick

para-equestrian

Learn more about Para-Equestrian on our website Team Support

Walter Van Jef Desmedt Haegenborgh Veterinarian Chef d’Equipe

Thais Verhulst Ingrid Daeleman Groom Groom Barbara Minneci Michèle George © Olivier Papegnies

Para-Equestrian Para-equestrian Dressage, the Paralympic equestrian discipline, has been featured in every Games program Sander Stadeus Nils Debo since Atlanta 1996. Athletes compete in Groom Groom four mixed gender ‘grades’ or groups of disabilities. Each rider competes in at least two tests: an individual and a team test. The seven best riders are riding the freestyle test. Qualified as

© ROCOG a team for the Games, our country will also participate in the team competition. Venue Olympic Equestrian Centre The ability of controlling the horse Bibiana Matheussen Gold medals 11 throughout a range of changes in pace Athlete Assistant and direction is the main objective.

28 29 para-equestrian para-equestrian

Michèle George Eveline Van Looveren

Sport: Para-equestrian Sport: Para-equestrian Classification: Grade IV Horse Name: Exelent Date of birth: 02/01/1974 Classification: Grade IA Residence: Amougies Birth date: 04/06/1986 Club: Quadrille Residence: Brecht Horse Name: FBW Rainman Club: Quadrille Disability: hemiplegic Disability: hemiplegic Origin of disability: accident Origin of disability: riding accident in 2000 Participations to Paralympic Games: Participation to Paralympic Games: London 2012 : 1st individual and freestyle, 2nd team first participation in Rio 2016 test Best performances: World Games Caen 2014: 9th Other best performances: World Games Caen individual test; European Championships Herning 2014: 1st individual and freestyle, 2nd team test; World 2013: 8th place individual test; CPEDI*** Waregem Games Lexington 2010: 2nd freestyle test; European 2015: 1st freestyle test Championships Kristiansand 2011: 2nd individual and 2nd team test; CPEDI*** Waregem, Mannheim, Ebreichsdorf and Mulhouse 2015: 1st individual, team and freestyle test

Ciska Vermeulen Barbara Minneci Sport: Para-equestrian Horse Name: Rohmeo Sport: Para-equestrian Classification: Grade IV Classification: Grade II Date of birth: 12/12/1986 Date of birth: 12/06/1969 Residence: Lokeren Residence: Strombeek-Bever Club: Quadrille Club: Quadrille Disability: paralysis in left arm Horse Name: Barilla Origin of disability: riding accident in 2008 Disability: monoplegia Participation to Paralympic Games: London 2012: 4th Origin of disability: cancer individual, 5th freestyle, 9th team test Participations to Paralympic Games: London 2012: Other best performances: World Games Caen 2014: 5th team test, 6th freestyle test, 8th individual test 8th individual test; European Championships Herning Other best performances: CPEDI*** Moorsele 2013: 4th individual and team test 2013: 1st team, individual and freestyle test; CPEDI***

Waregem 2015: 2nd team and individual and 1st freestyle test; CPEDI*** Ebreichsdorf 2015: 1st team test, individual and freestyle; European Champion- ships Deauville 2015: 3rd team, 6th individual and 4th freestyle test 30 31 QR-CODE

swimming

Learn more about Paralympic swimming on our website On the Paralympic program since Rome 1960, swimming has always been one of the more popular sports at the Games. It provides competition for athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairments in 151 medal events. Athletes compete for medals in freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly and medley in distances ranging from the 50m sprint to the endurance test of the 400m. Men’s and women’s team relays are also contested in 4x100m freestyle and medley, as well as the mixed 4x50m freestyle.

Team Support

Sven Decaesstecker © Luc Dequick

Gregory Planckaert Swimming Coach © ROCOG

Venue Olympic Aquatics Stadium Gold medals 151 Michelle Franssen 32 33 swimming swimming

Sven Decaesstecker Michelle Franssen

Sport: swimming Sport: swimming Discipline: 200m individual medley, 400m freestyle Discipline: 200m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 200m Classification: S10, SM10 (depending on discipline) individual medley Date of birth: 31/05/1985 Classification: S14 Residence: Roeselare Date of birth: 14/12/1994 Club: Royal Ostend Swimming Club Residence: Overpelt Disability: single below knee amputation (right) Club: Hasseltse Zwemvereniging Spartacus Origin of disability: bone cancer Disability: mental disability Participations to Paralympic Games: London 2012: Origin of disability: congenital 5th 200m individual medley, 9th 100m backstroke; th th Participations to Paralympic Games: Beijing 2008: 4 200m individual medley, 8 100m first participation in Rio 2016 breaststroke, 9th 100m backstroke; Athens 2004: 5th th th Best performances: World Championships 100m breaststroke, 6 100m backstroke, 6 200m Glasgow 2015: 4th 100m backstroke; European individual medley Championships Funchal 2016: 4th 200m freestyle, Other best performances: World Championships th th rd 4 200m individual medley, 5 100m backstroke; Montreal 2013: 3 200m individual medley; th rd European Championships Eindhoven 2014: 6 100m World Championships Eindhoven 2010: 3 200m backstroke, 6th 200m individual medley individual medley; European Championships Eindhoven 2014: 3rd 100m backstroke; European Championships Berlin 2011: 1st 200m individual medley, 3rd 100m backstroke; European Championships Reykjavik 2009: 2nd 200m individual medley

34 35 swimming swimming

Maarten Libin Yannick Vandeput

Sport: swimming Sport: swimming Discipline: 100m breaststroke Discipline: 100m backstroke, 200m freestyle Classification: SB6 Classification: S14 Date of birth: 18/11/1992 Date of birth: 16/12/1994 Residence: Gingelom Residence: Houthalen Club: Vrije Zwemmers Tienen Club: Avali Disability: bilateral above knee amputation Disability: mental disability Origin of disability: work accident Origin of disability: congenital Participations to Paralympic Games: Participations to Paralympic Games: London 2012: th th th first participation in Rio 2016 15 100m backstroke, 15 100m breaststroke, 13 200m Best performances: World Championships freestyle Glasgow 2015: 5th 100m breaststroke; European Other best performances: World Championships th Championships Funchal 2016: 8th 100m breaststroke Glasgow 2015: 7 100m backstroke; European Cham- pionships Funchal 2016: 4th 100m backstroke, 5th 200m freestyle; European Championships Eindhoven 2014 : 5th 200m individual medley, 5th 200m freestyle

36 37 QR-CODE Laurens Devos Marc Ledoux table tennis

Learn more about Paralympic Table Tennis on our website

Team Support

Michel Verhaverbeke Coach

Table Tennis

On the Paralympic Games program since 1960, Paralympic table tennis is one of the founder Paralympic Nico Vergeylen sports. No wonder it is one of the most popular sports, Coach practiced over more than 100 countries worldwide. Table tennis offers singles and team events for both men and women, with standing, wheelchair and intellectual impairment. Matches consist of five games of 11 points. In Rio 2016, the team events will be played over the best of © ROCOG three matches, starting with the doubles and then one or Venue Riocentro - Pavilion 3 two single matches to decide the tie. Gold medals 29

38 39 table tennis table tennis

Laurens Devos Mathieu Loicq

Sport: table tennis Sport: Table tennis Discipline: singles Discipline: singles and teams Classification: TT9 Classification: TT8 Date of birth: 15/08/2000 Date of birth: 27/06/1979 Residence: Malle Residence: Herseaux Club: TTC Sokah Club: ELSH Claude Goffin Disability: cerebral palsy - hemiplegia Disability: malformation of hands and feet Origin of disability: congenital Origin of disability: congenital Participations to Paralympic Games: Participations to Paralympic Games: London 2012: first participation in Rio 2016 out in quarter finals teams, out in group phase singles; Best performances: European Championships Beijing 2008: out in quarter finals teams, out in group Vejle 2015: 1st singles; best individual ranking ITTF-2 phase singles; Athens 2004: 1st singles, 1st teams 01/06/2016; Ended 1st, 2nd or 3rd at every international Other best performances: World Championships 2010 competition (singles and/or teams) Gwangju: 1st singles, 2nd teams; European Champion- ships 2007 Kranjska Gora and 2013 Lignano: 1st teams and 3rd singles; best individual ranking ITTF-1

Marc Ledoux

Sport: table tennis Florian Van Acker Discipline: singles and teams Classification: TT8 Sport: table tennis Date of birth: 04/03/1986 Discipline: singles Residence: Strépy-Bracquegnies Classification: TT11 Club: ELSH Claude Goffin Date of birth: 28/02/1997 Disability: cerebral palsy Residence: Langemark Origin of disability: congenital Club: Sint-Niklase tafeltennisclub and TTC Jong Gullegem Participations to Paralympic Games: London 2012: Disability: mental disability out in quarter finals teams, out in group phase singles; Origin of disability: congenital Beijing 2008: out in quarter finals teams, out in group Participations to Paralympic Games: phase singles; Athens 2004: 1st teams, 2nd singles first participation in Rio 2016 Other best performances: World Championships Best performances: World Championships Beijing 2014: rd Taiwan 2002: 3rd singles; 3 singles; European Championships Vejle 2015: st World Championships Montreux 2006 and Gwangju 1 singles; best individual ranking ITTF-1 (01/06/2016); st 2010: 2nd teams; World Cup Rotterdam 2011: 1st singles; 2016: 1 Belgian Championships U21 able-bodied; 2015: st nd rd European Championships 2007 Kranjska Gora and ended 1 , 2 or 3 at every international 2013 Lignano: 1st teams; Copa Costa-Rica 2015: 1st; best competition (singles and/or teams) individual ranking ITTF-1 40 41 QR-CODE

wheelchair tennis

Learn more about Paralympic Tennis on our Wheelchair tennis made its Paralympic Games debut © Tennis Foundation © Tennis website at the Barcelona 1992 Games. It is one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports in the world. In Rio, men and women will compete with six gold medals up for grabs. Besides the wheelchair men’s and women’s singles and doubles, quad players with impairments to three or more limbs will compete in mixed gender singles and doubles. The only difference to standard tennis rules is the ‘two-bounce rule,’ whereby the ball can bounce twice.

Team Support Mike Denayer

Venue Olympic Tennis Center Gold medals 6

Joachim Gérard devenir millionnaire ? Sport: weelchair tennis Discipline: singles and doubles Date of birth: 15/10/1988 Residence: Limelette Club: CFTFR c’est possible chaque Disability: polio Origin of disability: congenital Participation to Paralympic Games: London 2012: out in quarter finals singles, out in round of 16 mercredi ET samedi doubles; Beijing 2008: out in round of 16 singles Other best performances: Weelchair Tennis Mas- ters 2015: 1st; Australian Open 2016: finalist singles; Wimbledon 2016: out in semifinals singles;US Open 2015: out in semifinals singles,Australian Open 2015: out in semifinals singles; PUB AD best individual ranking ITF-2 miljonair worden? Mike Denayer het kan elke woensdag Sport: weelchair tennis Discipline: singles and doubles Date of birth: 26/04/1989 Residence: Rixensart en zaterdag Club: CFTFR Disability: paraplegic Origin of disability: medical malpractice Participation to Paralympic Games: London 2012: out in round of 16 doubles, out in 1st round singles Other best performances: World Junior Champion in 2005 and 2006; Ath Open 2012 and 2014: 1st; Morbihan Open 2016: 1st; best individual ranking ITF-34

44 stats

Make sport accessible Belgium and the Paralympic Summer Games for everyone. Belgian Medals Total That’s what we like to do. Year City Countries Particpants Athletes (g-s-b)* medals 1960 Rome 23 400 18 1-1-1 3 1964 Tokyo 22 390 2 1-0-1 2 1968 Tel Aviv 29 750 29 0-3-3 6 1972 Heidelberg 44 1.000 23 1-1-2 4 1976 Toronto 42 1.600 48 8-6-9 23 1980 Arnhem 42 2.000 77 13-13-18 44 1984 Stoke Mand.-NY 45 2.900 51 22-22-12 56 1988 Seoel 62 3.000 56 16-17-9 42 1992 Barcelona 90 3.300 70 5-5-7 17 1996 Atlanta 120 3.500 37 8-10-7 25 PUB AD 2000 Sydney 135 4.000 30 1-4-4 9 2004 Athens 136 3.800 25 3-2-2 7 2008 Beijing 150 4.000 21 0-0-1 1 2012 London 165 4.200 40 3-1-3 7 2016 Rio 176 4.000 29

*gold-silver-bronze In 1960, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980 and 1988, the Belgian wheelchair basketball team participated. In 1984, 1988 and 1992 the Belgian football team (Cerebral Palsy) participated. In 2008, the Belgian goalball team participated. In 2012, the Belgian wheelchair rugby team and the Belgian goalball team participated.

IPC Officials representing Belgium

Leen Coudenys / IPC Governing Board Executive Assistant Peter Van de Vliet / IPC Medical & Scientific Director Bart Schell / IPC Marketing team, Client Services Manager Yves Vanlandewijck / IPC Sports Science Committee chairperson Patrick Van Caelenberghe / Games Official, IF Jury Member Laetitia Lenaerts / Games Official, IF Classifier

More info on engie.com 47

16114_ADV_ENGIE_Mecenaat_ENG_A5.indd 1 16/08/16 12:15 TEAM partners

NPC Representatives

Partners Belgian Paralympic Committee

Anne d’Ieteren Marc Vergauwen Ronny Kloeck BPC President BPC Secretary BPC Treasurer General

leagues team (PARA)medical Representatives de mission team

Olek Annik Bosmans Kazimirowski Chief Team Chef de Mission Physician

Jessica De Smet Guillaume Els Director Parantee Gobert Snauwaert Paralympic Attaché Sports psychologist

Antoine Veerle Collard Laurens Maïlis Lechien Office Manager Physiotherapist Director Ligue Paralympic Team suppliers Handisport Francophone Stef Julien Dehantschutter Liens Press Attaché Physiotherapist

Steven Benjamin Van Beylen Allaerts Sport Manager Physiotherapist

Jérémy Fabian Solot Gabellini Sport Manager Physiotherapist

Thomas Degryse Hanne Communication Callewaert Team Physiotherapist

Lieve Jeroen Bauters SPECIAL THANKS TO Communication Van den Bossche Team Nurse

Ann Van Dun Nurse

48 49 Belgian Paralympic Committee Avenue de Bouchout/Bouchoutlaan 9 1020 Bruxelles/Brussel [email protected] +32 2 474 51 50

Parantee Huis van de sport Zuiderlaan 13 9000 Gent [email protected] +32 9 243 11 70

Ligue Handisport Francophone Grand Hôpital de Charleroi ‘Site Reine Fabiola’ 69, Avenue du Centenaire 6061 Montignies-sur-Sambre [email protected] +32 71 10 67 50

follow our athletes at

Disover our website paralympic.Be BEparalympics