Belgium wins first Winter Olympics gold since 1948

By Tolulope Dolapo Thomas

Published: February 19, 2022 | 5:47 PM GMT

Belgium has won its first Winter Olympics gold medal for 74 years when Bart Swings claimed the men’s mass start speed skating title in Beijing on Saturday.

After 16 laps of the track, Swings scored 63 points to beat the South Koreans Chung Jae-won, who scored 40 points, and Lee Seung-hoon, who had 20.

Swings improved on the silver medal he collected in the same event four years ago in Pyeongchang.

“From silver to gold, it’s incredible.

“I always want to raise the bar to the next level, and after silver comes gold.

“I knew it was ambitious and a dream to work towards,” he said.

Belgium’s last Winter Olympic title came at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St Moritz when Micheline Lannoy and Pierre Baugniet took gold in pairs skating.

AFP/Mercy Chukwudiebere
Belgium wins first Winter Olympics gold since 1948

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About Tolulope Dolapo Thomas

Tolulope Dolapo Thomas, BSc, is a Public Health Educator and Broadcast Journalist with extensive experience in radio and television. She specializes in Health Promotion, Sexual and Reproductive/Fertility Health, and Environmental Health. Certified in CPR and First Aid, Tolulope is passionate about empowering women through evidence-based public health education, fertility awareness, and community sensitization. She is currently pursuing an MSc in Public Health and is the founder of Everywoman Health by TD, a women-focused health platform dedicated to providing accurate, accessible, and trustworthy guidance for women at every stage of life.