Robert Van De Walle
Encyclopedia
Robert Van de Walle (born 20 May 1954) is a Belgian
judo
ka. He was the first judoka to ever compete at five Olympics.
He was born in Ostend
.
At the 1980 Summer Olympics
he won the gold medal in the men's half-heavyweight category and in 1988, at the relatively late age of thirty-four, he won a second medal: a bronze one in the same category. He competed in his fifth and final Olympics in 1992 at age 38, reaching the quarter finals.
He continued competing successfully at the highest level of competition for several years after that. During his career Van de Walle also captured three European titles: in 1980, 1985 and 1986. Together with Ingrid Berghmans
he was the face of Belgian judo in the late 1970s and 1980s.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
ka. He was the first judoka to ever compete at five Olympics.
He was born in Ostend
Ostend
Ostend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
.
At the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
he won the gold medal in the men's half-heavyweight category and in 1988, at the relatively late age of thirty-four, he won a second medal: a bronze one in the same category. He competed in his fifth and final Olympics in 1992 at age 38, reaching the quarter finals.
He continued competing successfully at the highest level of competition for several years after that. During his career Van de Walle also captured three European titles: in 1980, 1985 and 1986. Together with Ingrid Berghmans
Ingrid Berghmans
Ingrid Berghmans is a judoka from Belgium who has eight times been named Belgian Sportswoman of the Year. A former world title holder, she is also an Olympic competitor....
he was the face of Belgian judo in the late 1970s and 1980s.