No less than 165 athletes will be representing Belgium at the Olympic Games in Paris. Among them also quite a few students and alumni of the The Antwerp University Association. With 12 athletes, the Association is strongly represented in Paris.
Especially the hockey teams will feature many students and alumni. In the Red Lions squad, Arno Van Dessel (UAntwerp) can ask hockey and study tips from Félix Denayer, Alexander Hendrickx and Arthur De Sloover. Nicolas De Kerpel, in turn, graduated from the Karel de Grote Hogeschool.
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We also see many familiar faces in the Red Panthers roster. Michelle Struijk and Delphine Mariën can be found in the UAntwerp auditorium when they are not on the hockey pitch. Something Judith Vandermeiren already did before her teammates.
In judo, Matthias Casse (KdG alumnus) is aiming for gold in the up to 81-kilogram category this time after his bronze medal in Tokyo. Christian Iguacel, a former student at UAntwerp, will have his eyes set on a medal as well, as a member of the Belgian Tornados.
A bit further south, in Marseille, sailors Eline Verstraelen (UAntwerp) and Isaura Maenhaut (Antwerp Maritime Academy) will also make their Olympic debut. Maenhaut is aiming for a top eight finish in the 49er FX after her European title. Verstraelen mainly wants to gain experience in the Nacra 17 class with a view to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
