Aagje Vanwalleghem and Jonas Toeback won the all-around titles at the Belgian Championships that took place this weekend in Aiseau-Presles.

Aagje Vanwalleghem (Belgium)

The 21-year-old Vanwalleghem outscored 2008 Olympian Gaelle Mys by 2.70 points for the victory. Third was Lin Versonnen, the 2008 Senior A-level champion.

Vanwalleghem's win follows her successful performance at the European Championships in Milan in April, where she placed sixth all-around and fourth on vault. Earlier in her career, she became the first female Belgian gymnast to win a World Cup medal, and she finished 23rd in the all-around final at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Vanwalleghem won the bronze medal on vault and placed sixth all-around at the 2005 Europeans.

At the 2007 World Championships in Stuttgart, which served as the qualifying competition for the 2008 Olympic Games, Vanwalleghem placed 70th all-around in preliminaries with a score of 58.10. Mys placed 68th with a score of 58.15, and thereby earned the Belgian women's individual berth to Beijing. At the end of 2008, Vanwalleghem won the bronze medal on vault at the World Cup Final in Madrid.

Vanwalleghem trained in her hometown of Wevelgem earlier this year, but returned to the Top Gymnastics training center in Ghent following her success in Milan, according to Belgian Gymnastics Federation spokesperson Inge Doens. "All the equipment and surroundings are present to perform at top level," Doens said.

Coached since May 4 by new Belgian national team coach Yves Kieffer, Vanwalleghem is handling her transition well, according to Doens.

"Aagje made it clear to the federation that it is her wish to come back," Doens said. "The members of the Council of Policy reacted favorable to this alignment. The federation will incorporate Aagje in the structure again and give her all the support that is needed. (Vanwalleghem and Kieffer) want to focus on the future, with the target to take part in the 2010 World Championships."

In the men's Belgian Championships, Toeback, who competed on only rings at last year's Belgian junior championships, outscored defending senior all-around bronze medalist Jeremy Bourgois for the title. Third was Gilles Gentges, the 2007 and 2008 junior all-around silver medalist.

Donna-Donny Truyens, who placed sixth on pommel horse at the 2009 Europeans, competed on this apparatus only and scored 15.80.

2009 Belgian Championships
May 23-24, Aiseau-Presles

Senior Women's All-Around
1. Aagje Vanwalleghem 56.65
2. Gaelle Mys 53.95
3. Lin Versonnen 47.00
4. Isabelle Zwirtz 46.20
5. Laurane Dheur 42.30
6. Jolien Eggermont 26.85 (2 events)
7. Renate Masschelin 12.70 (1 event)

Junior Women's All-Around
1. Antje van de Velde 50.75
2. Floriane Scianguetta 47.90
3. Eline Vandersteen 46.90
4. Alica Canart 46.75
5. Julie Croket 16.50 (2 events)

Senior Men's All-Around
1. Jonas Toeback 81.30
2. Jeremy Bourgois 80.55
3. Gilles Gentges 79.10
4. Nils Valkenborgh 38.50 (3 events)
5. Barend Verbeke 28.65 (2 events)
6. Donna-Donny Truyens 15.80 (1 event)
7. Medhi Diakourakis 11.90 (1 event)

Junior Men's All-Around
1. Thomas Neuteleers 80.85
2. Steven Liesenborgs 75.95
3. Daan Kenis 75.60
4. Zeger de Nyn 75.35
5. Vincent Audoore 70.35
6. Jimmy Verbaeys 65.85 (5 events)
7. Siemon Volkaert 53.55 (4 events)
8. Bram Louwije 41.05 (4 events)
9. Robin Castiaux 23.45 (2 events)

International Gymnast Magazine Related Features
"Making Her Way" - Vanwalleghem profile (August/September 2004)
"Mighty Mys" - Gaelle Mys profile (November 2005)

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Comments (1)

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Tonya Walker said:

	... hey how long do u have to pratice to be a pro
	report abuse vote down vote up

May 26, 2009 | url
Votes: -1

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