Belgian Falcons claim European 4x100m bronze in Birmingham
The Belgian Falcons won bronze in the men’s 4x100-metre relay at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, securing the first senior European outdoor medal for Belgium’s men in the event. European Athletics’ official results place Belgium third, while Atletiek Vlaanderen records a final time of 38.70 seconds, behind Great Britain and Germany. The result completes a rapid rise for a relay programme launched only in 2022. Belgium finished fourth at the 2024 European Championships in Rome before lowering the national record to 38.46 at the 2025 World Championships and 38.40 at the 2026 World Relays, according to Belgian federation records. Bronze therefore rewards sustained progress rather than a one-off upset. It also broadens Belgium’s relay strength beyond the established 4x400-metre programme and gives the Falcons a significant championship result as they prepare for the 2027 World Championships and the longer route towards the Los Angeles Olympics.
For Belgian athletics supporters, clubs, coaches and young sprinters, the medal validates sustained investment in a national short-relay programme. European Athletics’ results make it Belgium’s first senior European outdoor medal in the men’s 4x100 metres. The performance also demonstrates how athletes from clubs across Belgium can produce a result greater than their individual rankings through specialist exchange work. For the Falcons themselves, bronze adds championship credibility to the national record and their already secured place at the 2027 World Championships.
The are Belgium’s senior men’s 4x100-metre relay squad, developed as a dedicated national project from 2022. is a Belgian sprinter and regular relay finisher whose World Athletics profile and federation records place him in several national-record quartets. is a Belgian 100- and 200-metre sprinter who became national 100-metre champion in 2025, according to World Athletics. is a Belgian short sprinter and established member of the Falcons’ middle relay legs. is a Belgian sprinter and national-record holder over 200 metres, according to World Athletics-linked records. is the continental governing body responsible for the European Championships. is Belgium’s Dutch-speaking athletics league and a constituent part of Belgian Athletics. is a city in England’s West Midlands; its hosted the from 10 to 16 August 2026. ’s capital, hosted the 2026 World Athletics Relays. Beijing will host the 2027 World Athletics Championships.
Background
says the modern project began in 2022, when Belgium returned a men’s 4x100-metre team to the European Championships after a long absence. ’ Munich results show that squad reaching the final but failing to finish. Belgian Athletics’ 2024 championship report records fourth place in Rome, 0.13 seconds outside the medals, after a national record in the heats. Federation record tables then document improvements to 38.49 in Guangzhou and 38.46 in Tokyo during 2025. World Athletics and Belgian federation records place the current national mark at 38.40, achieved in Gaborone on 3 May 2026.
Why now
The Falcons reached the European podium on 15 August 2026 after qualifying earlier that day. The result is timely because it converts several seasons of record-breaking progress—and fourth place at Rome 2024—into the programme’s first senior European outdoor medal.
What to watch
Watch the Falcons’ squad selections, Vleminckx’s sustained fitness after his May hamstring injury, and whether Belgium can again approach its 38.40 national record. The next major benchmark is the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, for which World Athletics’ relay results show Belgium has qualified.
What happens next
The Falcons are expected to review their Birmingham exchanges and manage the fitness of their leading sprinters before the next international relay opportunities. World Athletics’ 2026 World Relays results already give Belgium a place at the 2027 World Championships in Beijing. Selection and running order could still change with form and injuries, while the programme’s longer target is likely to be qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Potential consequences
The European medal could strengthen the Falcons’ case for continued coaching, training-camp and athlete support within Belgium’s elite-sport system. It may also make selection more competitive as emerging sprinters seek places in a proven championship squad. Internationally, rivals are likely to treat Belgium as a podium contender rather than merely a finalist. That status brings pressure: future performances will be measured against both the Birmingham medal and the 38.40 national record, even when conditions or personnel differ.
Impact
International — The medal places Belgium among Europe’s leading men’s sprint-relay nations, behind Great Britain and Germany in the Birmingham final. More importantly for the next competitive cycle, World Athletics’ Gaborone results already confirm Belgium’s qualification for the 2027 World Championships in Beijing. The Falcons will face deeper sprint pools globally, where matching their European placing will require exchanges close to their national-record standard.
What it means for you
Nothing changes immediately for the general public, but Belgian athletics clubs and emerging sprinters now have a proven men’s short-relay pathway to target. Supporters can expect the Falcons to enter future European meetings as established medal contenders. For Belgian Athletics and its regional leagues, the practical decision is how to preserve specialist exchange training, athlete availability and squad depth through the 2027 and 2028 championship cycle.
Timeline
- 2022-04-28·Atletiek Vlaanderen publicly presents the modern Belgian Falcons project.
- 2022-08-21·European Athletics’ results show Belgium reaching the European final in Munich but not finishing.
- 2024-06-12·Belgian Athletics records fourth place at the European Championships in Rome in 38.65 seconds.
- 2025-05-11·Atletiek Vlaanderen records a Belgian relay record of 38.49 at the World Relays in Guangzhou.
- 2025-09-20·Atletiek Vlaanderen records another national mark, 38.46, at the World Championships in Tokyo.
- 2026-05-03·World Athletics and Belgian federation records document 38.40 in Gaborone and qualification for Beijing 2027.
- 2026-08-15·European Athletics’ results place the Belgian Falcons third in the European final in Birmingham.
Who, where and what
Key people, places and terms in this story
Belgian sprinter and regular relay finisher
Belgian short sprinter, established member of the Falcons’ middle relay legs
Belgian sprinter, national-record holder over 200 metres
city where European Athletics Championships were held from 10 to 16 August 2026
Belgian 100- and 200-metre sprinter, national 100-metre champion in 2025
Show the full library (11)
Belgian sprinter and regular relay finisher
Belgian 100- and 200-metre sprinter, national 100-metre champion in 2025
Belgian short sprinter, established member of the Falcons’ middle relay legs
Belgian sprinter, national-record holder over 200 metres
city where European Athletics Championships were held from 10 to 16 August 2026
venue of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham
host city of the 2026 World Athletics Relays
international athletics competition
senior men’s 4x100-metre relay squad
Belgium’s Dutch-speaking athletics league and a constituent part of Belgian Athletics
continental governing body responsible for the European Championships
Sources & evidence
- View sourceVRT NWS — Opnieuw Belgische medaille op EK atletiek: Belgian Falcons knallen naar brons op 4x100 meterPrimaryprimary· vrtnws.be· 15 August 2026Retrieved 16 August 2026· 48 days agodate verified· Dated
- View sourceEuropean Athletics — Birmingham 2026 men’s 4x100m final resultsofficial· live.european-athletics.com· 15 August 2026Retrieved 16 August 2026· 48 days agodate verified· Dated
- View sourceAtletiek Vlaanderen — 2026 European Championships Birmingham: Belgian programme and resultsofficial· atletiek.be· 10 August 2026Retrieved 16 August 2026· 53 days agodate verified· Dated
- View sourceWorld Athletics — 2026 World Relays men’s 4x100m official resultsofficial· worldathletics.org· 3 May 2026Retrieved 16 August 2026· 152 days agodate verified· Dated
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