English
Seated in an electric carriage, Kevin and Jonathan Borlée enjoyed a lap of honour on the King Baudouin Stadium track, where they have so often thrilled athletics fans with their running performances in recent years. On Saturday evening, the crowd treated the twins to huge applause and a standing ovation. The Belgian Tornados and other colleagues formed a guard of honour on the track.
Then the Borlées were invited to take the stage. Former world record holder in the 400 metres and multiple Olympic Champion Michael Johnson and numerous other prominent guests then extensively honoured Kevin, Jonathan and Jacques Borlée. Sister Olivia impressed with a rousing speech and beautiful closing words: “Enjoy life, the best is yet to come”.
WHAT A RECORD!
With the Belgian 4×400-metre relay team led by Jacques Borlée, Kevin and Jonathan guaranteed titles, medals and final places at all major international championships for more than a decade.
Individually, the brothers excelled too. Jonathan took bronze in the 400 metres at the 2018 European Championships, finished fourth once and fifth in the World Championships final and sixth in an Olympic final.
Kevin was crowned European Champion in 2010 and became vice-European Champion in 2018. On the world stage, his bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships was a highlight, as was his fifth-place finish at the 2012 London Olympics. In the same year, he became overall Diamond League winner in the 400 metres.
On Friday evening on Day 1 of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme, Kevin Borlée ran the last individual 400 metres of his career. Jonathan had previously called it quits after persistent injury.
BELGIAN TITLE IN LAST RACE
In the preliminary programme of the second day of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme on Saturday, Kevin did run in the Belgian 4×400 metres Championships for clubs. And more than that … together with his Olympic Essenbeek Halle teammates – Tuur Bras, Jonathan Sacoor and younger brother Dylan Borlée – Kevin grabbed gold setting a new Belgian record for clubs: 3:05.57.