Robert Van de Walle

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Robert Van de Walle (second from left) as 1980 Olympic champion

Robert Van de Walle (born May 20, 1954 in Ostend ) is a former Belgian judoka who won two Olympic medals.

Career

Robert Van de Walle fought in the light heavyweight up to 93 kilograms from 1972 to 1976, according to the new class division from 1977 he was active in the class up to 95 kilograms until the end of his career, in addition to his starts in the light heavyweight division, he occasionally competed in the open class.

In 1973 he won the military world championships in the light heavyweight division and finished second in the open class. The following year he took first place in an international tournament for the first time when he won the Dutch Open Championships. At the Junior World Championships in 1974 he reached second place. In 1975 and 1976 he won an international tournament, at the European Championships in 1976 he finished second behind Tengis Chubuluri from the Soviet Union. At the 1976 Olympic Games , Robert Van de Walle retired early.

In 1977 Robert Van de Walle lost again in the European Championship final, this time Dietmar Lorenz from the GDR won; Robert Van de Walle also won bronze in the open class. In 1979 he repeated the double medal win in Brussels, again losing in the light heavyweight final against Chubuluri. Half a year after the European Championships, the Judo World Championships took place in Paris in 1979 and the Belgian was again defeated in the final against Chubuluri. In 1980 Robert Van de Walle won the Open Class at the European Championships, his final opponent was Angelo Parisi . At the 1980 Olympic Games , Robert Van de Walle and Tengis Chubuluri faced each other again in the light heavyweight final and this time the Belgian won. After 1979, Robert Van de Walle won the Belgian Sportsman of the Year election for the second time in 1980 . In 1981 he lost to Chubuluri in the world championship final, and the Belgian also won the bronze medal in the open class.

After a medalless year 1982 he won four medals at the European and World Championships in 1983, in his only championship final he was defeated at the European Championships in the open class against Angelo Parisi. In 1984 he won several tournaments, at the peak of the season, the 1984 Olympic Games , however, he was eliminated in the first round.

In 1984 Robert Van de Walle had won his last medal in the open class at the European Championships, at the age of over 30 he now concentrated entirely on the light heavyweight division. In 1985 and 1986 he won the European Championship, both times the Frenchman Roger Vachon was his opponent in the final. The bronze medal at the 1988 Olympic Games and the 1989 World Championships were his last major medals. In 1992 Robert Van de Walle was the first judoka to take part in the Olympic Games for the fifth time, and he finished seventh again.

Robert Van de Walle won two Belgian championship titles in addition to his international titles, in 1977 in the light heavyweight division and in 1978 in the open class.

International medals

Olympic games

  • 1980 : Gold light heavyweight
  • 1988 : Bronze light heavyweight

World championships

  • 1979 : Silver light heavyweight
  • 1981 : silver light heavyweight; Bronze Open Class
  • 1983 : bronze light heavyweight; Bronze Open Class
  • 1985 : Bronze light heavyweight
  • 1989 : Bronze light heavyweight

European championships

  • 1976 : Silver light heavyweight
  • 1977 : silver light heavyweight; Bronze Open Class
  • 1978 : Bronze light heavyweight
  • 1979 : silver light heavyweight; Bronze Open Class
  • 1980 : bronze light heavyweight; Gold Open Class
  • 1981 : Bronze light heavyweight
  • 1983 : bronze light heavyweight; Silver Open Class
  • 1984 : silver light heavyweight; Bronze Open Class
  • 1985 : Gold light heavyweight
  • 1986 : Gold light heavyweight
  • 1987 : Bronze light heavyweight
  • 1988 : Bronze light heavyweight
  • 1991: Bronze light heavyweight team European championship

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Walle, Robert Van de
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Belgian judoka
DATE OF BIRTH May 20, 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH East End