Nafi Thiam won the Decastar heptathlon meeting in Talence, France, totaling 6.482 punten and securing victory primarily through a strong performance in the javelin throw. Fellow Belgian athlete Noor Vidts finished third overall with 6.329 ptn, according to official meeting results reported by Sporza.
How Thiam Secured Victory in Talence
Competing in her first heptathlon finish in two years, Nafi Thiam navigated a challenging weekend to capture her second career title in Talence, having previously won the event in 2019. According to official event records, Thiam’s winning total of 6.482 punten sits well below her personal best of 7.013 points set nine years ago in Götzis, but the competition served as a vital test following an extended period affected by injuries.
The turning point for Thiam came during the javelin throw on the second day. Thiam dominated the discipline by launching a throw of 51,51 meter, earning 889 ptn and catapulting herself into the overall lead. That performance contrasted with her national record of 59,32 meter, yet it proved decisive against the rest of the field. After six of the seven events, Thiam held 5.570 punten, putting her ahead of German competitor Anna-Elisabeth Ehlers and compatriot Noor Vidts.
To seal the gold medal in the closing event, Thiam ran near the front of the pack throughout the 800-meter race, crossing the finish line fifth in a time of 2’13″66. Speaking after the event, Thiam told reporters, as quoted by Sporza, Mijn eerste finish in twee jaar tijd doet heel veel deugd. Het is altijd fijn hier in Talence en ik kreeg veel energie van het publiek. Het leek wel een thuiswedstrijd en ik ben blij met mijn tweede eindzege hier.
(My first finish in two years feels really good. It’s always nice here in Talence and I got a lot of energy from the crowd. It felt like a home match and I am happy with my second overall victory here.
)
Noor Vidts Claims the Final Podiums Spot
Noor Vidts mounted a strong campaign across the two-day meeting, holding the lead after the first four events of the competition. Vidts encountered difficulties in the field events on Sunday, recording a best mark of 6,00 meter in the long jump—well short of her personal best and her 6,32-meter jump at the Memorial Van Damme earlier in the season. In the javelin throw, Vidts reached 42,91 meter to place eighth in that specific discipline.
In the concluding 800-meter race, Vidts finished third with a time of 2’12″69. That effort brought her final score to 6.329 ptn, placing her third on the podium behind Thiam and runner-up Anna-Elisabeth Ehlers, who amassed 6.374 ptn. Both Belgian athletes finished under the entry standard for next year’s World Athletics Championships, though sources noted that securing a healthy finish and building physical resilience remained the primary objectives for both competitors in France.
Discipline Breakdown and Scores
Official results published by Sporza outline the performance metrics for both Belgian competitors across all seven disciplines:
- 100m Hurdles: Vidts 13″23 – 1090 ptn (4e); Thiam 13″73 – 1017 ptn (9e)
- High Jump: Thiam 1,85 meter – 1041 ptn (2e); Vidts 1,79 meter – 966 ptn (4e)
- Shot Put: Thiam 15,10 meter – 868 ptn (1e); Vidts 14,44 meter – 823 ptn (3e)
- 200m: Vidts 24″31 – 951 ptn (6e); Thiam 24″96 – 890 ptn (13e)
- Long Jump: Thiam 6,05 meter – 865 ptn (11e); Vidts 6,00 meter – 850 ptn (14e)
- Javelin Throw: Thiam 51,51 meter – 889 ptn (1); Vidts 42,91 meter – 723 ptn (8e)
- 800m: Vidts 2’12″69 – 926 ptn (3e); Thiam 2’13″66 – 912 ptn (5e)
- Total Score: Thiam 6.482 ptn – 1e; Vidts 6.329 ptn – 3e
Reflecting on her performance and the road ahead, Thiam emphasized her optimism regarding her competitive future, stating in remarks reported by De Morgen: Ik geloof oprecht dat ik nog mooie dingen kan doen.
(I sincerely believe that I can still do great things.
)
Both athletes will now turn their attention to recovery and preparation for the upcoming indoor and outdoor seasons, with sights set on major international championships in the next competitive cycle.
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