Marathon runner Abdi athlete of the year in Belgium

Marathon runner Bashir Abdi was declared the winner of the Golden Spike, the trophy for the best Belgian athlete, in Mechelen on Saturday. The European marathon record holder succeeds himself. Abdi (33) owes the prize to his bronze medal at the Olympic marathon in Sapporo in August and his European marathon record in Rotterdam in October. The Belgian was propelled in Japan by his friend Abdi Nageeye, who won the silver on behalf of the Netherlands.

In Rotterdam he set a European record with 2.03.36. He was 40 seconds faster than the old top time, run by the Turk Kaan Kigen Özbilen in 2015 in Valencia.

Last year Abdi already received the National Trophy for Sports Merit, a highly regarded award in Belgium.