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Robert Van de Walle

Belgian judoka From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert Van de Walle (born 20 May 1954) is a retired Belgian judoka. He was the first judoka to ever compete at five Olympics, from 1976 to 1992. Competing in the half-heavyweight category he won the gold medal in 1980 and a bronze in 1988 at the age of 34. Van de Walle won European titles in 1980, 1985 and 1986.[2] Together with Ingrid Berghmans he was the face of Belgian judo in the late 1970s and 1980s. After retiring from competitions he ran a coaching company together with his wife.[3] He was the head of the Belgian delegation at the 2004 Summer Olympics.[4] In summer 2021, 14 years after obtaining the rank of black belt 8th dan; Van De Walle, currently a member of Judo Club Crossing Schaerbeek, accepted his promotion to 9th dan from the International Judo Federation.[5]

Born (1954-05-20) 20 May 1954 (age 72)
OccupationJudoka
Height1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
CountryBelgium
Quick facts Personal information, Born ...
Robert Van de Walle
Van de Walle (2nd left) at the 1980 Olympics
Personal information
Born (1954-05-20) 20 May 1954 (age 72)
OccupationJudoka
Height1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Sport
CountryBelgium
SportJudo
–95 kg, Open
     9th dan black belt[1]
ClubCrossing Schaerbeek
Achievements and titles
1st place, gold medalist(s) (1980)
2nd place, silver medalist(s) (1979, 1981)
1st place, gold medalist(s) (1980, 1985, 1986)
Medal record
Men's judo
Representing  Belgium
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place1980 Moscow‍–‍95 kg
Bronze medal – third place1988 Seoul‍–‍95 kg
World Championships
Silver medal – second place1979 Paris‍–‍95 kg
Silver medal – second place1981 Maastricht‍–‍95 kg
Bronze medal – third place1981 MaastrichtOpen
Bronze medal – third place1983 MoscowOpen
Bronze medal – third place1983 Moscow‍–‍95 kg
Bronze medal – third place1985 Seoul‍–‍95 kg
Bronze medal – third place1989 Belgrade‍–‍95 kg
European Championships
Gold medal – first place1980 ViennaOpen
Gold medal – first place1985 Hamar‍–‍95 kg
Gold medal – first place1986 Belgrade‍–‍95 kg
Silver medal – second place1976 Kyiv‍–‍93 kg
Silver medal – second place1977 Ludwigshafen‍–‍95 kg
Silver medal – second place1979 Brussels‍–‍95 kg
Silver medal – second place1983 ParisOpen
Silver medal – second place1984 Liege‍–‍95 kg
Bronze medal – third place1977 LudwigshafenOpen
Bronze medal – third place1978 Helsinki‍–‍95 kg
Bronze medal – third place1979 BrusselsOpen
Bronze medal – third place1980 Vienna‍–‍95 kg
Bronze medal – third place1981 Debrecen‍–‍95 kg
Bronze medal – third place1983 Paris‍–‍95 kg
Bronze medal – third place1984 LiegeOpen
Bronze medal – third place1987 Paris‍–‍95 kg
Bronze medal – third place1988 Pamplona‍–‍95 kg
World Juniors Championships
Silver medal – second place1974 Rio de Janeiro‍–‍93 kg
European Cadet Championships
Bronze medal – third place1971 Naples‍–‍85 kg
Profile at external databases
IJF8904
JudoInside.com4760
Updated on 18 June 2023
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Bibliography

  • (1993) "Pick-ups" Judo Masterclass Techniques Ippon Books

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