Inline skating fans in Zandvoorde pay tribute to Bart Swings

The speaker announced the 31-year-old Swings as the ‘greatest of all time’, but Swings very modestly drove a lap of honor on the blue track. He waved and exchanged high fives with the crowd. Last month, Swings won four gold medals and a bronze as an inline skater at the World Games in Birmingham, USA.

Memory of West Flanders

In speed skating he became Olympic champion in the mass start last winter in Beijing. Swings said his best memory of the 200m track in West Flanders dates back to 2009 when he formed the Belgian relay team with his brother Maarten and Ferre Spruyt, which won the European title after a miraculous chase. Swings announced that it would return to Heerenveen on Monday to continue preparations for the skating season. Last week he was already on the ice in Thialf.

Sandrine Bag best wife

Chairman Marc Decramer of the organizing Zwaantjes Rollers Club and mayor Bart Tommelein (Open VLD) of Ostend handed over gifts. In the 1000 meters, the Swiss Livio Wenger finished second behind Swings. Third place went to Frenchman Elton de Souza. In the women’s race, Sandrine Tas won ahead of the surprising Aarathy Kasturiraj from India and Laethisia Schimek from Germany. On the first day of the GP, Swings and Tas were second in the points race.