Cynthia Bolingo improved the Belgian record twice in three days. The fact that she ran to 50″72 in the 400m on a soaking wet track on Saturday at the Night of Athletics already suggested that she could actually go even faster.
And it didn’t take Bolingo long to confirm that suspicion. On Monday evening she finished in Nancy in 50″29, an immediate improvement. In fact, 50″29 is the fastest time run by a European athlete since 2015.
“With a time low in the 50 seconds you participate for a place in the final”, Eline Berings knows. “It won’t be obvious, because the 400m for the women is of an unprecedented high level. But if she can continue this form… .”
Bolingo not only stands out with her top performances, she is also a controversial figure, says Eline Berings. “She is very charismatic and laughs and dances a lot. She has also come a long way until now. She already struggled with several injuries and lost her father to Covid-19.”
If you are wondering what the white stripe means on Bolingo’s chin during matches, Bolingo himself got an answer in a podcast by La Dernière Heure. “First of all, it refers to the duality in our world today. I have the impression that we live in a paradoxical, but complementary world.”
“This line means that we are surrounded by things that are opposite and that exist because of those opposites. It also contrasts with my skin tone. You rarely have the choice of not having a choice and saying “I am both”. You are a man or a woman. Black or white. Straight or gay.” In addition, the dash refers to her dual nationality: Bolingo has Congolese roots.
The Belgian flagship of athletics is of course Nafi Thiam. She herself said she was better than in Rio last weekend, but her performance does not confirm that for the time being. Eline Berings knows Thiam a little and thinks that these statements can reassure us.
“Nafi is not easy to read as a person. She is the introverted type, who does not like to expose herself in the press. When she tells journalists that she feels good and is better than ever, I think we should believe that and can look forward to a top performance in Tokyo.”
“Her performances this summer have not yet been impressive. We cannot deny that. She chose not to do all-around for the Games. That is quite exceptional, because all-around is her discipline par excellence.”
“On the other hand, maybe that’s why she hasn’t been very impressive yet. She only did a few small competitions here and there, which she probably saw more as training.”
“That’s why I suspect that she will grow once she is on the track in Tokyo, because Thiam is really a competitive animal. A lot will depend on the first two or three songs, as always. If they go well, I think we will best Nafi Thiam will see.”
