Elien Vekemans
{{Short description|Belgian pole vaulter (born 2001)}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Elien Vekemans
| fullname =
| image = Elien Vekemans - WK 2023 in Boedapest.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Elien Vekemans at the 2023 World Championships.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|4|30|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| residence =
| nationality =
| spouse =
| sport = Athletics
| event = Pole vault
| club =
| worlds =
| nationals =
| headercolor =
| pb = Pole vault: 4.56m (2025)
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Sport|Women's athletics}}
{{Medal|Country|{{BEL}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|European U23 Championships}}
{{Medal|Silver|2023 Espoo|Pole Vault}}
{{Medal|Competition|European U20 Championships}}
{{Medal|Bronze|2019 Borås|Pole Vault}}
}}
Elien Vekemans (born 30 April 2001) is a Belgian pole vaulter. In 2024, she became the national record holder in the event.{{cite web|title= Elien Vekemans|website=World Athletics|accessdate=26 January 2025|url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/belgium/elien-vekemans-14763347}}
Career
In 2018, she set a junior Belgian record of 4.25 metres competing in Oordegem. She won the bronze medal at the 2019 European Athletics U20 Championships in Borås. Later that month she set a new junior Belgian record of 4.26 metres whilst competing in Amiens.{{cite web|url= https://www.atletiek.be/nieuws/nieuw-br-polsstok-voor-elien-vekemans|website=Atletiek.be|accessdate=26 January 2025|title= NEW BR POLE VAULT FOR ELIEN VEKEMANS|date=30 July 2019}}
In June 2023, she finished fourth competing for Belgium at the 2023 European Athletics Team Championships First Division in Silesia with a height of 4.50 metres.{{cite web|website=World Athletics|accessdate=26 January 2025|url= https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7147649?eventId=10229527|title= European Athletics Team Championships First Division|date=23 June 2023}} She won the silver medal at the 2023 European Athletics U23 Championships in Espoo, Finland behind Frenchwoman Marie-Julie Bonnin.{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Athletisme/Actualites/Sasha-zhoya-marie-julie-bonnin-et-simon-gore-titres-aux-champions-d-europe-espoirs/1408522|website=lequipe.fr|accessdate=26 January 2025|title= Sasha Zhoya, Marie-Julie Bonnin and Simon Gore titled at the European U23 Championships|date=15 July 2023}}{{cite web|url= https://www.european-athletics.com/news/a-trio-of-gold-medals-for-france-on-the-penultimate-evening-in-espoo-2023|website=Euroepan Athletics|accessdate=26 January 2025|title= French gold rush on the penultimate evening in Espoo 2023|date=15 July 2023}} She competed at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, placing 29th in qualifying with a 4.35 metres clearance but not reaching the final.{{cite web|url= https://www.dhnet.be/dernieres-depeches/2023/08/21/mondiaux-dathletisme-elien-vekemans-eliminee-a-la-perche-QY3P4RCBBFCIXISHRPE4XZBTBM/|website=dhnet.be|accessdate=26 January 2025|title= World Athletics Championships - Elien Vekemans eliminated in pole vault|date=21 August 2023}}
In July 2024, Vekemans broke the Belgian outdoor record with a 4.52 metres clearance at the Flanders Cup in Leuven, but was still 1cm short of the overall Belgian record of Fanny Smets 4.53 metres clearance from 2021.{{cite web|url= https://www.atletiek.be/nieuws/flanders-cup-kessel-lo-elien-vekemans-met-supersprong-van-4m52 |website=Atletiek.be|accessdate=26 January 2025|title= FLANDERS CUP KESSEL-LO: ELIEN VEKEMANS WITH A SUPER JUMP OF 4M52|date=27 July 2024}} In Krk, Croatia on 30 August 2024 she set a new national record height of 4.54 metres.{{cite web|url= https://www.atni.be/2024/08/30/elien-vekemans-nu-onbetwist-belgisch-recordhoudster-charlotte-penneman-loopt-3e-juniorenchrono-ooit-over-5-000m/ |website=atni.be|title=Elien Vekemans nu onbetwist Belgisch recordhoudster, Charlotte Penneman loopt 3e juniorenchrono ooit over 5.000m|first= Michiel |last=Reyntjens|date=30 August 2024}}
In Rouen on 25 January 2025, she increased her national record with a 4.56 metres clearance.{{cite web|url= https://www.european-athletics.com/news/karalis-opens-his-season-with-a-5-85m-clearance-for-victory-in-rouen|website=European Athletics|accessdate=26 January 2025|title= Karalis opens his season with a 5.85m clearance for victory in Rouen|date=25 January 2025}} She competed at the 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, and progressed to the final finishing in the top-eight.{{cite web|website=Watch Athletics|accessdate=13 April 2025|title= Women's Pole Vault Results - European Athletics Indoor Championships 2025|date=8 March 2025|url= https://www.watchathletics.com/page/6411/women-s-pole-vault-results-european-athletics-indoor-championships-2025}}
Personal life
Her brother Daan Vekemans is a professional footballer. Their parents emigrated to Austria in 2021 to open a hotel. She studied in the United States at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Arkansas.{{cite web|date=30 June 2023|title= Too weak poles keep Elien Vekemans from 4.60m, proud brother Daan thinks that sister has made progress|url=https://m.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20230627_94721439?journeybuilder=nopaywall&utm_source=google&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&edge_id=cx:2oumccbq1dfnejv9xsh68p2st:top2gqjk7ark|website=Nieuwsblad.be|accessdate=26 January 2025}} She later returned to study bioengineering at KU Leuven the city of Leuven located in the province of Flemish Brabant, Flemish Region, Belgium after a period of ill health.{{cite web|url= https://www.atletiek.be/nieuws/elien-vekemans-focust-bij-ek-beloften-op-zichzelf-en-niet-op-medailles|website=Atletiek.be|accessdate=26 January 2025|title=ELIEN VEKEMANS FOCUSES ON HERSELF AND NOT ON MEDALS AT EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR YOUNG ATHLETES|date=6 July 2023}}
References
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Category:Belgian female pole vaulters
Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Belgium