He represented his country at the 1996 Summer Olympics and competed for Belgium at four consecutive World Championships in Athletics from 1995 to 2001. He helped set a 4×100 metres relay national record on his final appearance at that competition. He was a four-time participant at the IAAF World Indoor Championships and a four-time medallist at the lower league European Cup meetings. He won 19 national titles in sprint events, combining indoor and outdoors.
After his retirement, he admitted to doping during his career in his autobiography. However, his performances were not annulled as he did not fail any drug tests over that period.
Born in Sint-Niklaas, East Flanders,[1] He made his first impact at national level in 1992 when he won the Belgian indoor title in the 200 metres as well as the outdoor under-23 title in the distance. He retained his indoor title in 1993 and won his first national title at the Belgian Athletics Championships in 1995 with a personal best of 20.80 seconds.[2]
European champion and Olympic debutEdit
Wijmeersch made his international debut at the 1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships, making it to the semi-finals of the 200 m competition. He made his first appearance at the World Championships in Athletics that same year, although he failed to make it out of the heats at that event.[3]
The following season brought major success in the form of the gold medal at the 1996 European Athletics Indoor Championships, which he won in a time of 21.04 seconds.[4] He had a personal best time of 20.68 at the Meeting Pas de Calais – that time ranked him in the top ten globally that season. He remained in good form in the outdoor season, setting two personal bests with wins in Tallinn, running 10.23 for the 100 metres and 20.42 seconds for the 200 m.[5] His first outdoor medal came shortly after at the European Cup 2nd League, where he was the 100 m champion.[6] An Olympic debut came at the 1996 Atlanta Games and he reached the quarter-finals in both the 100 m and 200 m while representing Belgium.[1]
After a curtailed 2000 season, he returned in 2001 in strong form by winning the 60 m Belgian title in a new best of 6.70 seconds.[2] He matched that time at the 2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships, reaching the semi-finals, but failed to get past the heats in his speciality 200 m when it came to the 2001 World Championships in Athletics.[3] Some success did come at the event, however, as with the Belgian men's 4×100 metres relay he helped set a national record of 39.22 seconds.[2] This was his last appearance on the global stage.[3] He won the 2002 Belgian 100 m title and placed fourth in the 200 m at the European Cup 1st League, but his performances declined over the period. He competed at a lower level in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.[5]
Final titles and retirementEdit
Wijmeersch returned to form in 2005 at the age of 35, setting lifetime indoor bests of 6.69 seconds for the 60 m and 5.80 seconds for the 50 metres. He was the national champion indoors in the short sprint, but did not translate these performances to the outdoor season, in which his best outing was a third-place finish in the 100 m at the Belgian Championships. Better performances came in 2006. He was the over-35 category winner of the 60 m at the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships and claimed a 100 m individual and relay double at the European Cup 1st League.[7][8] He ran a season's best of 10.25 seconds for the 100 m – among the fastest times of his career, in spite of his age. He ran in that event at the 2006 European Athletics Championships and was a semi-finalist. It was to be the last major international outing of his career.[5] Passing his mid-thirties, he ran at European Cup meetings for Belgium in 2007 and 2008 but did not medal. He brought his career to a close with a high by taking the 100 m title at the 2008 Belgian Championships.[2]
Following his retirement in 2008, he released an autobiography stated that he had used performance-enhancing drugs during his sprinting career, including testosterone-based products and erythropoietin (EPO), under the supervision of a doctor, Theo Lebon. He also accused Renno Roelandt, vice-president of the Belgian Olympic Committee, of having knowledge of his doping practices.[9]
erik, wijmeersch, born, january, 1970, belgian, former, track, field, athlete, competed, sprinting, events, greatest, success, gold, medal, metres, european, athletics, indoor, championships, 1996, best, time, remains, belgian, indoor, record, event, also, hol. Erik Wijmeersch born 23 January 1970 is a Belgian former track and field athlete who competed in sprinting events His greatest success was a gold medal in the 200 metres at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in 1996 His best time of 20 66 remains the Belgian indoor record for the event He also holds bests of 10 17 seconds for the 100 metres and 6 69 seconds for the indoor 60 metres Erik Wijmeersch Wijmeersch left at the 2008 European CupMedal recordMen s athleticsRepresenting BelgiumEuropean Athletics Indoor Championships1996 Stockholm 200 mHe represented his country at the 1996 Summer Olympics and competed for Belgium at four consecutive World Championships in Athletics from 1995 to 2001 He helped set a 4 100 metres relay national record on his final appearance at that competition He was a four time participant at the IAAF World Indoor Championships and a four time medallist at the lower league European Cup meetings He won 19 national titles in sprint events combining indoor and outdoors After his retirement he admitted to doping during his career in his autobiography However his performances were not annulled as he did not fail any drug tests over that period Contents 1 Career 1 1 Early career 1 2 European champion and Olympic debut 1 3 Later international career 1 4 Final titles and retirement 2 Personal bests 3 National titles 4 International competitions 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksCareer EditEarly career Edit Born in Sint Niklaas East Flanders 1 He made his first impact at national level in 1992 when he won the Belgian indoor title in the 200 metres as well as the outdoor under 23 title in the distance He retained his indoor title in 1993 and won his first national title at the Belgian Athletics Championships in 1995 with a personal best of 20 80 seconds 2 European champion and Olympic debut Edit Wijmeersch made his international debut at the 1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships making it to the semi finals of the 200 m competition He made his first appearance at the World Championships in Athletics that same year although he failed to make it out of the heats at that event 3 The following season brought major success in the form of the gold medal at the 1996 European Athletics Indoor Championships which he won in a time of 21 04 seconds 4 He had a personal best time of 20 68 at the Meeting Pas de Calais that time ranked him in the top ten globally that season He remained in good form in the outdoor season setting two personal bests with wins in Tallinn running 10 23 for the 100 metres and 20 42 seconds for the 200 m 5 His first outdoor medal came shortly after at the European Cup 2nd League where he was the 100 m champion 6 An Olympic debut came at the 1996 Atlanta Games and he reached the quarter finals in both the 100 m and 200 m while representing Belgium 1 Later international career Edit He represented Belgium at two global competitions in the next season he was a semi finalist at the 1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships in the 200 m and a quarter finalist in both short sprints at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics 3 He won a further regional gold medal at the European 1st League meeting 7 Wijmeersch set personal bests at all distances that year 6 74 seconds for the 60 metres 10 17 seconds for the 100 m a Belgian indoor record of 20 66 seconds for the 200 m 32 52 seconds for the 300 metres and 47 57 seconds for the 400 metres In 1998 he took a 100 200 m double at the Belgian Championships and in his sole international outing reached the semi finals of the 200 m at the 1998 European Athletics Championships 5 He remained among the Belgian elite the following year but failed to make an impact internationally being eliminated in the heats stage at both the 1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships and the 1999 World Championships in Athletics 3 After a curtailed 2000 season he returned in 2001 in strong form by winning the 60 m Belgian title in a new best of 6 70 seconds 2 He matched that time at the 2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships reaching the semi finals but failed to get past the heats in his speciality 200 m when it came to the 2001 World Championships in Athletics 3 Some success did come at the event however as with the Belgian men s 4 100 metres relay he helped set a national record of 39 22 seconds 2 This was his last appearance on the global stage 3 He won the 2002 Belgian 100 m title and placed fourth in the 200 m at the European Cup 1st League but his performances declined over the period He competed at a lower level in the 2003 and 2004 seasons 5 Final titles and retirement Edit Wijmeersch returned to form in 2005 at the age of 35 setting lifetime indoor bests of 6 69 seconds for the 60 m and 5 80 seconds for the 50 metres He was the national champion indoors in the short sprint but did not translate these performances to the outdoor season in which his best outing was a third place finish in the 100 m at the Belgian Championships Better performances came in 2006 He was the over 35 category winner of the 60 m at the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships and claimed a 100 m individual and relay double at the European Cup 1st League 7 8 He ran a season s best of 10 25 seconds for the 100 m among the fastest times of his career in spite of his age He ran in that event at the 2006 European Athletics Championships and was a semi finalist It was to be the last major international outing of his career 5 Passing his mid thirties he ran at European Cup meetings for Belgium in 2007 and 2008 but did not medal He brought his career to a close with a high by taking the 100 m title at the 2008 Belgian Championships 2 Following his retirement in 2008 he released an autobiography stated that he had used performance enhancing drugs during his sprinting career including testosterone based products and erythropoietin EPO under the supervision of a doctor Theo Lebon He also accused Renno Roelandt vice president of the Belgian Olympic Committee of having knowledge of his doping practices 9 Personal bests Edit50 metres 5 80 sec 2005 60 metres 6 69 sec 2005 100 metres 10 17 sec 1997 150 metres 15 92 sec 2001 200 metres 20 42 sec 1996 200 metres indoor 20 66 sec 1997 NR 300 metres 32 52 sec 1997 400 metres indoor 47 57 sec 1997 National titles EditBelgian Athletics Championships 100 metres 1996 1998 2002 2008 200 metres 1995 1997 1998 1999 2001 2 Belgian Indoor Championships 60 metres 1998 1999 2001 2005 200 metres 1992 1993 1996 1997 2000 2001 2 International competitions EditYear Competition Venue Position Event1995 World Indoor Championships Barcelona Spain 5th semis 200 metres1995 World Championships Gothenburg Sweden 5th heats 200 metres1996 European Indoor Championships Stockholm Sweden 1st 200 metres1996 European Cup 2nd League Oordegem Belgium 1st 100 metres1996 Olympic Games Atlanta United States 5th q finals 100 metres1996 Olympic Games Atlanta United States 4th q finals 200 metres1997 World Indoor Championships Paris France 4th semis 200 metres1997 European Cup 1st League Dublin Ireland 1st 200 metres1997 World Championships Athens Greece 6th q finals 100 metres1997 World Championships Athens Greece 5th q finals 200 metres1998 European Championships Budapest Hungary DQ semis 200 metres1999 World Indoor Championships Maebashi Japan 3rd heats 200 metres1999 World Championships Seville Span 5th heats 100 metres1999 World Championships Seville Span 4th heats 200 metres2001 World Indoor Championships Lisbon Portugal 8th semis 60 metres2001 World Championships Edmonton Canada 5th heats 200 metres2001 World Championships Edmonton Canada 5th heats 4 100 metres relay2006 World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships Linz Austria 1st 60 metres M352006 European Cup 2nd League Prague Czech Republic 1st 100 metres2006 European Championships Gothenburg Sweden 7th semis 100 metresSee also EditList of doping cases in athleticsReferences Edit a b Erik Wijmeersch Sports Reference Retrieved on 2014 10 27 a b c d e f Erik Wijmeersch Vlaamse Atletiekliga Retrieved on 2014 10 27 a b c d e Erik Wijmeersch IAAF Retrieved on 2014 10 27 European Indoor Championships GBR Athletics Retrieved on 2014 10 27 a b c d Erik Wijmeersch Tilastopaja Retrieved on 2014 10 27 European Cup C Final and Second League GBR Athletics Retrieved on 2014 10 27 a b European Cup B Final and First League GBR Athletics Retrieved on 2014 10 27 WORLD MASTERS VETERANS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GBR Athletics Retrieved on 2014 10 27 Doping coke en hoeren een exclusieve voorpublicatie uit de autobiografie van sprinter Erik Wijmeersch HUMO 2008 10 14 Retrieved on 2014 10 27 External links EditErik Wijmeersch at World Athletics Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Erik Wijmeersch amp oldid 1156346390, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
