Torun, Poland – The World Athletics Indoor Championships saw a dramatic turn of events on Friday, March 20, 2026, as Belgian sprinter Simon Verherstraeten suffered an injury during the final of the 60-meter dash. The incident occurred shortly after the start of the race, forcing Verherstraeten to be carried off the track on a stretcher.
Verherstraeten had previously impressed in the earlier rounds, recording a time of 6.53 seconds in the heats, just a hundredth of a second off his Belgian record. He continued his strong performance in the semi-finals, finishing with a time of 6.56 seconds, securing a place in the final. This promising run set the stage for a potential medal, but the final unfortunately ended in heartbreak for the Belgian athlete.
The gold medal in the 60-meter event was ultimately claimed by American Jordan Anthony.
Elsewhere at the championships, Eliott Crestan delivered a dominant performance in the 800-meter heats, winning his race in 1:45.51, the fastest time of all competitors. Crestan will compete in the semi-finals on Saturday, aiming for a spot in the final and a potential medal. The strong showing from Crestan adds to the excitement for Belgian fans following the team’s performance.
Pieter Sisk and Jochem Vermeulen competed in the 1,500-meter event but were unable to advance to the final, finishing sixth and seventh in their respective heats. Only the top three from each heat qualified for the final on Sunday.
Helena Ponette also faced disappointment in the 400-meter event, finishing third in her heat with a time of 52.34 seconds and failing to qualify for the next round.
In the heptathlon, Jente Hauttekeete concluded the first day in sixth place with 3,341 points. He recorded marks of 6.99m in the 60m, 7.15m in the long jump, 15.34m in the shot put, and 1.99m in the high jump, but fell short of personal bests in all events. Hauttekeete will continue his competition on Saturday with the 60-meter hurdles, pole vault, and 1,000-meter events.
