Laura Waem

2012

Waem joined Belgium's junior national team in 2012.^[2] She competed at the International Gymnix in Montreal and placed 17th in the all-around. Then in the event finals, she finished fifth on the balance beam and eighth on the floor exercise.^[3] She then competed at the Junior European Championships, helping the Belgian team place 12th.^[4]

2013

Waem became age-eligible for senior international competitions in 2013.^[5] She made her senior international debut at the International Gymnix, finishing 12th in the all-around.^[2] There, she also finished sixth on the uneven bars and fourth on the balance beam.^[6] She qualified for the uneven bars final at the Anadia World Challenge Cup, finishing seventh.^[7] She placed 11th in the all-around at the Dutch Invitational.^[8] She then competed at the World Championships in Antwerp and qualified for the all-around final alongside Gaelle Mys, marking the first time two Belgian gymnasts qualified for the World all-around final.^[9] In the final, Waem finished 21st.^[10]

2014

Waem began the season at the International Gymnix and finished sixth in the all-around, seventh on the uneven bars, and eighth on the balance beam.^[11] At the Belgian Championships, she finished second in the all-around to Lisa Verschueren.^[12] She then finished fourth in the all-around at a friendly meet against France and Romania.^[13] At the European Championships, she helped Belgium qualify for their second-ever European team final and finish seventh.^[14] She then finished fourth in the all-around at the Novara Cup, and Belgium placed third as a team.^[15]

Waem competed at the 2014 World Championships and helped the Belgian team finish 11th, which at the time was the best-ever World Championships team result for Belgium.^[16] Waem also qualified for her second consecutive World all-around final and finished 24th.^[10]

2015

Waem only competed on the uneven bars at a friendly meet against Sweden and Austria, finishing third behind teammates Cindy Vandenhole and Lisa Verschueren.^[17] She then competed in the all-around at the Novara Cup, finishing 13th, and Belgium placed third as a team.^[18] She competed at the World Championships alongside Vandenhole, Verschueren, Julie Croket, Rune Hermans, and Gaelle Mys. They finished 11th as a team and qualified for the 2016 Olympic Test Event. She did not qualify for a third all-around final due to a fall off the uneven bars.^[19]

2016

Waem began the season at the International Gymnix, helping Belgium win the team competition and finishing fourth on the uneven bars.^[20] She then helped Belgium win a friendly meet against Romania and Germany and placed second in the all-around behind teammate Axelle Klinckaert.^[21] At the Olympic Test Event, Waem helped Belgium finish third and qualify as a full team for the Olympic Games for the first time since 1948.^[2][22] She competed as a guest at the Dutch Championships and won a gold medal on the uneven bars.^[23]

Waem was selected to represent Belgium at the 2016 Summer Olympics alongside Klinckaert (later replaced by reserve Rune Hermans),^[24] Senna Deriks, Nina Derwael, and Gaelle Mys.^[22] The team placed 12th in the qualification round.^[25]