Kelly Van Petegem
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
_by_Sandro_Halank–027.jpg) Van Petegem at the IBSF World Championships 2020 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Born | 3 December 1999[1] |
| Height | 169 cm (5.54 ft)[1] |
| Sport | |
| Country | Belgium |
| Sport | Bobsleigh |
Event(s) | Monobob, Two-woman |
| Turned pro | 2019[1] |
Kelly Van Petegem (born 3 December 1999) is a Belgian bobsledder. She represented Belgium at the 2026 Winter Olympics.[2]
Van Petegem initially competed in track and field events as a sprinter. She eventually transitioned to throwing events, such as javelin and shot put.[3] At age 18, she participated in a bobsleigh test event in Oordegem, and was recruited to Belgium's bobsleigh team afterwards.[4] She participated as a brakewoman in two-woman and as a pilot in monobob. At the 2022 Winter Olympics, she was a reserve brakewoman for the team of An Vannieuwenhuyse.[4] When Vannieuwenhuyse retired after 2022, Van Petegem became a pilot in the two-woman. She found success in the IBSF's Europe Cup during the 2023–24 season, winning two events and taking multiple medals.[5] Beginning with the 2024–25 season, she has competed primarily in the Bobsleigh World Cup.
Van Petegem qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics, earning the last available spot in monobob with her performance at the World Cup event at Alternberg, despite her suffering from a hamstring injury. She did not qualify for two-woman, in part due to an error in which the team was accidentally entered in to a wrong event, forcing them to miss points at their intended race.[6] In the Olympics, Van Petegem finished 19th.
Personal life
Van Petegem studied Biochemistry Laboratory Techniques at Hogeschool Gent.[7]
_by_Sandro_Halank–283.jpg)
