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Hanne Verbruggen after Olympic marathon limit: “Visor now on Belgian record” | sports weekend

Hanne Verbruggen (27) surprised last week by grabbing an Olympic ticket in the Valencia marathon. With a time of 2h29’14 “she ran 16 seconds faster than the limit for Tokyo, also a shattering of her personal record. Remarkable, because Verbruggen only started athletics 5 years ago. Sporza visited her.

“As a child I dreamed of going to the Games”

The marathon in Valencia was only her 3rd marathon ever, but Hanne Verbruggen immediately qualified for the Tokyo Games in 2021.

“The realization is not quite there yet, it looks like a dream”, Verbruggen told Sporza. “They will never take this away from me. I said as a child that I once went to the I wanted to play, but I had no idea what sport it would be in. “

Hanne Verbruggen is a diamond in the rough.

Frans Mattens – Coach Hanne Verbruggen

So it became athletics. Verbruggen’s performance is striking, because she has only been engaged in her sport for 5 years. The 27-year-old Verbruggen has never even attended a European Championship or a World Cup, but is already going to the Olympic Games.

“When I started with athletics, my trainer immediately said that the marathon might be something for me. I looked up at Louise Carton, but I thought I could never become that good. 42 kilometers is really far, but look it worked. “

“Hanne has a portion of talent, so I immediately said that she would get to the Games in the shortest time,” says her coach Frans Mattens. “Her stubbornness and commitment are her strengths. She is a diamond in the rough that needs to be cut and that happens quickly.”

Hanne Verbruggen during the marathon in Valencia.

“This time I ran with fast carbon shoes”

Last year Hanne Verbruggen also participated in the marathon in Valencia. Now she was wearing different footwear.

“This time I ran with the fast carbon shoes”, says Verbruggen. “Last year I still ran with normal running shoes and I now felt a clear difference.

“Of course, you can only run about 200 kilometers with them. They also cost 200 euros, so calculate if you want to run a few marathons.”

“Another personal record running in Tokyo”

After her Olympic selection, Hanne Verbruggen was immediately rewarded by Atletiek Vlaanderen with an elite contract. What are her ambitions in Tokyo now?

“I would very much like to set a new personal record there, but the circumstances there will make it difficult. I cannot stand the heat and the cold very well. So the weather should be in between, if possible”, Verbruggen wishes.

“I already have my big goal with that Olympic limit. So now my sights are carefully moving towards the Belgian record: 2h23’05”. Then I have to go 6 minutes faster. According to my trainer, the Belgian record is an achievable goal. And what he says always comes true. “

“Besides running, I teach natural sciences in 11 classes”

Verbruggen came back from Valencia on Monday last week, but there was no question of rest, because a day later she was already in class. She teaches natural sciences in secondary education.

“I have 11 classes, so I now have more than 3,000 copies to improve. The students had exams, but I did get a lot of support messages. They really sympathize.”

“Of course the combination makes it very tough, but I love doing it. I can’t imagine life without my students and without walking.”

The combination between walking and teaching is very tough, but I love doing it.

Hanne Verbruggen

Hanne Verbruggen needs a lot of improvement.

Hanne Verbruggen in Sports Weekend

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