Ivo Van Damme

Ivo Van Damme ( born February 21, 1954 in Brussels; † 29 December 1976) was a Belgian middle distance runner.

Up to the age of 16, Van Damme played football at Racing White, but then switched to athletics. His breakthrough was in 1973 one, when he was fourth on 800 meters at the Junior European Championships.

1974 ill Van Damme on glandular fever. After surviving the disease he won at the Indoor Athletics Championships in Katowice silver over 800 meters.

In 1976 he won at the Indoor Athletics Championships in Munich over 800 m and traveled as one of the favorites for the Olympic Games in Montreal. There, he won more than 800 m and 1500 m, two silver medals. In the race he lost over 800 m in 1:43,86 min the Cuban Alberto Juantorena. This time is still current Belgian record over this distance. Over 1500 m, it was subject to New Zealanders John Walker.

These two medals were his last great success. Five months after the Olympics had an accident with his car fatally Van Damme on the way back from a training camp in southern France.

A year later an athletics meeting took place in Brussels Heysel Stadium, renamed in 1995 in King Baudouin Stadium, in memory of Van Damme first place. This has since held annual Memorial Van Damme became one of the most prestigious sports festivals and is part of the IAAF Diamond League series.

Personal Best

• 800 m: 1:43,86 min, July 25, 1976 Montreal
• 1000 m: 2:15,5 min, July 14, 1976 Namur
• 1500 m: 3:36,26 min, 9 July 1976, Zurich