Jacques Borlée
Encyclopedia
Jacques Borlée is a former Belgian athlete, and the father and coach of athletes Kevin
, Jonathan and Olivia Borlée
. He was voted European Athletics Coach of the Year in 2011.
, in Belgian Congo
, in 1957, three years before the independence of the country. His father was the last Belgian governor of the Kivu
province. The family moved to Brussels in Belgium in 1960. Jacques Borlée married Edith de Martelaere, a former Belgian champion over 200m runner. They have five children together. Jacques Borlée also has two children from a second marriage.
in Moscow, reaching the quarterfinals of the 400 meters. At the 1982 European Athletics Championships in Athens, he ended fifth in his first round race over 400m, and fifth as part of the 4x400m relay team.
His personal record over 400m is 45.4 seconds, set in 1979.
Athletes he coached won medals at major championships. His daughter Olivia won a silver medal as part of the 4x100m relay team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, in a new Belgian record time. The Belgian 4x400m relay team, including his two sons Kevin and Jonathan, ended fifth at the same games, also setting a new national record in that race.
At the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
in Osaka, the women's 4x100m relay team, with his daughted Olivia, won the bronze medal. 4 Years later, at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
in Daegu, Kevin won the bronze medal in the 400m individual
, with Jonathan ending in fifth place.
At the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona, Kevin won the gold medal in the 400m race
, while the 4x400m relay team
with the two Borlée brothers won the bronze medal. The team achieved the same at the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships
as well.
Olivia Borlée was the national champion of Belgium over 100m in 2008 and 2009, and over 200m in 2009. Kevin Borlée was Belgian champion over 400m in 2007 and over 200m in 2009, and Jonathan was champion over 400m in 2006. The Gouden Spike
, the award for the Belgian Athlete of the Year, was won by Kevin in 2008 and 2010, and by Jonathan in 2009. Each time the other brother finished second. In 2008, Kevin was also the promising new athlete of the year, and Jonathan was the same in 2006. Olivia Borlée was the promising new athlete of 2003, and finished in third place in the female Gouden Spike in 2008 and 2009.
His sons have also repeatedly broken the national record at the 400m.
Kevin Borlée
Kevin Borlée is a Belgian sprinter, who specializes in the 400 metres. He was a semi-finalist at both the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2009 World Championships, and is the current European Champion on this distance....
, Jonathan and Olivia Borlée
Olivia Borlée
Olivia Borlée is a Belgian sprinter who specializes in the 200 metres. Her personal best time in the individual distance is 22.98 seconds, achieved in July 2006 in Brussels...
. He was voted European Athletics Coach of the Year in 2011.
Early life
Jacques Borlée was born in KisanganiKisangani
Kisangani is the capital of Orientale Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the 3rd largest urbanized city in the country and the largest of the cities that lie in the tropical woodlands of the Congo....
, in Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
, in 1957, three years before the independence of the country. His father was the last Belgian governor of the Kivu
Kivu
Kivu was the name for a large "Region" in the Democratic Republic of Congo under the rule of Mobutu Sese Seko that bordered Lake Kivu. It included three "Sub-Regions" : Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu and Maniema, corresponding to the three current provinces created in 1986...
province. The family moved to Brussels in Belgium in 1960. Jacques Borlée married Edith de Martelaere, a former Belgian champion over 200m runner. They have five children together. Jacques Borlée also has two children from a second marriage.
Athlete
Jacques Borlée was a sprinter, specializing in 100m, 200m and 400m, winning eight Belgian titles in total. He was Belgian champion over 100m in 1981 and 1983, Belgian champion over 200m in 1979, 1981, 1983 and 1984, Belgian champion over 400m in 1982, and Belgian champion over 400m hurdles in 1977. In 1983, he won a silver medal at the 1983 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Budapest over 200m. In 1980, he competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics1980 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...
in Moscow, reaching the quarterfinals of the 400 meters. At the 1982 European Athletics Championships in Athens, he ended fifth in his first round race over 400m, and fifth as part of the 4x400m relay team.
His personal record over 400m is 45.4 seconds, set in 1979.
Coach
Jacques Borlée is the coach of three of his children, the twins Kevin and Jonathan and their sister Olivia. He also coaches the mens 4x400 relay team. On 4 October 2011, he was voted the European coach of the year.Athletes he coached won medals at major championships. His daughter Olivia won a silver medal as part of the 4x100m relay team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, in a new Belgian record time. The Belgian 4x400m relay team, including his two sons Kevin and Jonathan, ended fifth at the same games, also setting a new national record in that race.
At the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
in Osaka, the women's 4x100m relay team, with his daughted Olivia, won the bronze medal. 4 Years later, at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
2011 World Championships in Athletics
The 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics was an international athletics competition that was held in Daegu, South Korea. It started on 27 August 2011 and finished on 4 September 2011....
in Daegu, Kevin won the bronze medal in the 400m individual
2011 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 400 metres
The men's 400 metres at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Daegu Stadium on August 28, 29 and 30.Going into the Championships, defending champion LaShawn Merritt was serving a 2 year ban. The ban was still in effect during the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, so...
, with Jonathan ending in fifth place.
At the 2010 European Athletics Championships in Barcelona, Kevin won the gold medal in the 400m race
2010 European Athletics Championships – Men's 400 metres
The men's 400 metres at the 2010 European Athletics Championships was held at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on 27, 28 and 30 July.-Medalists:-Records:-Schedule:-Heat 1:-Heat 2:-Heat 3:-Heat 4:-Heat 5:-Summary:-Semifinal 1:...
, while the 4x400m relay team
2010 European Athletics Championships – Men's 4 x 400 metres relay
The men's 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2010 European Athletics Championships was held at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on 31 July and 1 August.-Medalists:-Records:-Schedule:- Heat 1 :- Heat 2 :- Summary :-Final:-References:* *...
with the two Borlée brothers won the bronze medal. The team achieved the same at the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships
2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships
The 31st European Athletics Indoor Championships were held at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris, France, from 4 to 6 March 2011.A record high of 630 athletes, representing 46 countries, were entered into the three-day competition. Twenty-six track and field events were contested at the...
as well.
Olivia Borlée was the national champion of Belgium over 100m in 2008 and 2009, and over 200m in 2009. Kevin Borlée was Belgian champion over 400m in 2007 and over 200m in 2009, and Jonathan was champion over 400m in 2006. The Gouden Spike
Gouden Spike
The Gouden Spike is the most important athletics prize in Belgium. The prize honours the best Belgian male and female athlete of the year and the best male and female Belgian young talent of the year.-Winners:...
, the award for the Belgian Athlete of the Year, was won by Kevin in 2008 and 2010, and by Jonathan in 2009. Each time the other brother finished second. In 2008, Kevin was also the promising new athlete of the year, and Jonathan was the same in 2006. Olivia Borlée was the promising new athlete of 2003, and finished in third place in the female Gouden Spike in 2008 and 2009.
His sons have also repeatedly broken the national record at the 400m.