Shot putter Jolien Boumkwo goes viral for brave attempt at 100m hurdles in European Athletics Champs

Athletics star Jolien Boumkwo went viral for a very heartwarming reason after finishing last by a huge 19 seconds in the 100m hurdles at the European Championships. 

The 29-year-old Belgian shot put and hammer throw champion had already competed in her two pet disciplines at the tournament in Poland on Saturday, but she stepped up in the wildly different event featuring some of the world’s best hurdlers.

And it was all for the sake of the team. 

Finishing the 100m hurdles in 32.81 seconds, in a race won by Spanish sprinter Teresa Errandonea in 13.22, you’d think Boumkwo might have been a target for ridicule – but that was far from the case.

The powerfully-built 12-time National shot put champion put her hand up to compete in the event after Belgium’s two hurdlers had to pull out due to injury. If no one competed in the event, the team would have been disqualified, so the selfless Boumkwo took one for the team.

Jolien Boumkwo was all smiles as she competed in the 100m hurdles at the European Championships… despite being a shot putter!

The 29-year-old Belgian sent fans wild over the heartwarming scenes as she ‘took one for the team’ by competing

She had earlier competed in her pet event, shot put. She is a 12-time National champion for Belgian in the discipline

The crowd roared as she took off down the track, with her long legs simply stepping over each hurdle instead of jumping, with a wide smile on her face as she determinedly crossed the finishing line.

Remarkably, with Switzerland receiving a disqualification, the selfless star – who completely towered over her rivals – even secured two points for her run, rather than just one for competing. 

‘My team is the most important thing for me … it’s no joke – one for the team. I couldn’t let it happen to lose by one point,’ she said after the race.

Boumkwo explained that she was more than happy to take part, and said it was a ‘special experience’. 

Boumkwo might have finished 19 seconds off the victor, but she won hearts all over the world after walking over each hurdle so Belgium wouldn’t be disqualified

‘When I was asked, I immediately liked it, but only with the approval of my coach. He agreed if I took it easy and didn’t take any risk of injury,’ she said of her decision to ‘take one for the team’. 

‘We sometimes do hurdles in training, so I know how to do it. I thought it was a special experience, because much more than with the shot put I had the feeling that everyone was looking at me.

‘I try not to take myself too seriously as an athlete. The past has taught me that that will only make you cramp. If my two points ensure that we stay in the top division, this will certainly have been worth it.’

Fans were full of praise for Boumkwo, with the Belgian quickly going viral for the heartwarming scenes.

‘The effort she puts in so her team isn’t disqualified. I’m so here for it,’ said one fan, with another commenting: ‘a QUEEN if you ask me!’. ‘What a BOSS’, concurred another.

‘This brought a smile to my face, what a legend. And good on those at the end who went and congratulated her!’ wrote one – with many feeling likewise over the special moment: ‘She was adorable!’

‘Team needs her, she does it. She’s a damn shot putter and knew it would look a bit silly, but did it anyhow,’ commented an inspired watcher.

Team work makes the dream work, as they say!