Watch: Belgian locomotives win bronze at the World Games: the eighth medal for our country | world games

The eight of them may not exceed 640 kg together. The Belgian team is made up of 11 members: Wim Brooks, Luke and Raf Mertens (Hoogstraten), Wim de Schutter (Rette), Jan Hendricks and Eve Smits (Dessel), Joyer Janssens (Niglen), Water Reimkers (Mall), and Johnny Shermans (Dessel). Merksplas), Dries Vermeiren (Sint-Lenaarts) and Joris Vermeiren (Wuustwezel).

The tug-of-war competition was completed in one day. First, 5 matches had to be completed in the preliminary round. The Belgians started with a 1-1 draw with Italy, lost 3-0 to Great Britain, then a 1-1 draw over Germany, a 3-0 victory over the Netherlands, and a 3-0 defeat to the first favorite Switzerland.

The top four went to the medal battle, and Belgium finished fourth against 1st seed Switzerland in the semi-finals. It was again 3-0. Switzerland, which has won all its matches in Birmingham, is a reference country in this sport having already won 6 titles at the World Games (1989, 1993, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2022).

Belgium still had to compete for bronze against Germany. Our guys immediately started strong and were so big, they won 3-0. Switzerland won the gold medal against Great Britain.

All beginnings are tough, as it turns out to try the ropes. “We start the tournament how not to start, with a 1-1 draw against Italy,” coach Yves Smets analyzed the preliminary round of the Belgians.

“We always have to beat Italy. There were already those who thought it happened. We knew in advance that Great Britain was very strong and we lost. After 1-1 against Germany we beat Holland. The last four you know that anything is possible.”

“The Swiss are out of the league, we already knew that. In the bronze medal match we had to play our own game. We had to keep the match in our own hands and let them make mistakes and break it.”

The Belgian coach concluded his speech by saying, “We have a bronze: this is indescribable. We started the 2013 World Games with sixth place out of six.” “Four years later, we have exceeded our expectations for fourth place.”

“Now we put a little pressure on it, because last year we became world champions with clubs in a different weight category, but we lost 50 kilograms with the team. Now we are achieving our first medal in the state competition at the highest level.”

Luc Mertens was one of the Belgians who won the bronze medal. “It feels overwhelming. After a hesitant start, things got even better. Getting bronze is great. We can aim higher in the future.”

It is the eighth medal for the Belgium team in Birmingham and the fourth bronze medal. Bart Swings won four gold medals and one bronze medal in figure skating. The women’s 4x25m pop relay and Jeremy Lorcinol (free parkour) also took home a bronze in their respective discipline.