Belgium at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Belgium has been participating in the Olympic movement almost since the beginning, with their first appearance coming at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. They have competed in every Winter Olympic Games except for the 1960 and 1968 editions.^[1] Coming into Vancouver they had won five medals in Winter Olympic competition, but none since the 1998 Winter Olympics.^[1] Belgium qualified eight athletes into the Vancouver Olympics: three in alpine skiing, two in bobsleigh, two in figure skating, and one in short track speed skating.^[2] This was Belgium's first time fielding women in bobsleigh competition, Eva Willemarck and Elfje Willemsen were entered in the two-woman race.^[3] Figure skater Kevin van der Perren was chosen as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony, his second time doing so.^[4][5] Short-track racer Pieter Gysel was selected as the flag bearer for the closing ceremony.^[6]

Belgium qualified three athletes in alpine skiing.^[7] Karen Persyn was 26 years old at the time of her race in Vancouver, the women's slalom, which was held on 26 February. She was making her first Olympic appearance.^[8] She posted run times of 54.09 seconds^[9] and 53.87 seconds.^[10] Her combined time of 1 minute and 47.96 seconds was good enough to put her in 27th place, out of 55 women who finished both runs of the race.^[11] Bart Mollin and Jeroen Van den Bogaert each contested only one event, the men's slalom on 27 February.^[12] Mollin was 28 years old at the time, while Van den Bogaert was 30 years old.^[13] Both men were making their debut Olympic appearance.^[14][15] Mollin failed to finish the first run of the race, while Van den Bogaert posted a time of 53.99 seconds.^[16] In the second run, Van den Bogaert posted a time of 54.57 seconds,^[17] making his combined time for the race 1 minute and 48.56 seconds, which put him in 34th place out of 48 competitors who finished the race.^[18]

Belgium qualified one women's bobsleigh team. The two competitors, Eva Willemarck and Elfje Willemsen, were each 25 years old at the time of the Vancouver Olympics.^[19] Both were making their Olympic debuts, and Willemsen would again compete for Belgium at the 2014 Winter Olympics.^[20][21] The two-woman competition was held on 23–24 February, with two runs being contested each day.^[22] Belgium's sleigh posted times of 54.27 seconds,^[23] and 54.40 seconds on the first day.^[24] Of the 21 teams competing, Belgium finished the first day in 15th place.^[25] On the second day, Willemarck and Willemsen posted times of 54.64 seconds,^[26] and 54.17 seconds.^[27] Their final time was 3 minutes, 37.48 seconds, which placed the Belgians in 14th position for the overall competition.^[22]

These Olympics were Kevin van der Perren's third Olympic Games. His best finish was ninth at the 2006 Winter Games.^[28] He entered these Olympics with the goal of a top five finish.^[29] Van der Perren performed the short program in a skeleton costume. He thought it was his best short program he had ever performed, and expected to score higher than his personal best of 75.80 points. He scored 72.90 points, which put him in 12th place.^[30]

Twice during the free skate, he had to balance himself with a hand on the ice after his jump. Since he was nervous, he simplified his jumps for the middle of the program.^[31] During the free skate he placed 18th with 116.94 points.^[32] He finished with 189.84 total points, finishing in 17th place overall.^[33]

Isabelle Pieman met the criteria for the Olympics in 2009, but the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee delayed in selecting her for her first Olympic Games.^[34] She needed to finish in the top 24 to advance to the free skate.^[35] She set a new personal record during the short program, scoring 46.30 points.^[36] Pieman placed 25th, and did not advance to the free skating segment. She was happy with her finish, saying, "This was the best short freestyle in my career and I am very happy to have just been able to show that in Vancouver."^[37]