Gymnast's profile - Laura Waem

Credit: gymfed.be

Date of birth: 05/08/1997 (17)

Club: Sportiva Sint-Gillis-Waas vzw - Topsportschool Ghent

Favourite event: vault

Sometimes it feels like Laura Waem has been around for years, when in fact she only turned Seniors two years ago. This is probably due to the fact she is, since 2013, a rock for the Belgian team.


In 2012, as a junior, she participated at the European Championships in Brussels, where she was 30th in the all-around and 12th with the team. The following year, she went to the International Gymnix Canada (3 finals) and then to the Challenge Cup in Anadia (Portugal). At the Belgian Championship, she ranked 3rd, before winning gold on the uneven bars at the Gymfinales.

Credit: PN

Still in 2013, she was then selected for the World Championships in Antwerp where, with Gaelle Mys, she made History for Belgian gymnastics: it was the first time ever two Belgian gymnasts had qualified for the all-around final. Laura was 21st. In 2014 , she returned to Canada, where she reached three finals again (all-around , uneven bars and balance beam).

After a successful Belgian championship (2nd), she was selected for the European Championships in Sofia, where the Belgian team ranked 7th. She ended the year 2014 with the World Championships in China, where she contributed to the beautiful 11th place finish of the team and where she reached once again the all-around final ( 24th).


This year, a foot injury prevented her from competing at the Belgian Championship and the FIT Challenge. Let's hope Laura will recover in time for the 2015 World Championships!

Results:

2014 - World Championships (Nanning): 11th (team), 24th (all-around)

2014 - Belgian Championships: 2nd (all-around)

2014 - European Championships (Sofia): 7th (team), 7th (all-around)

2014 - International Gymnix Canada (Montreal): 6th (all-around), 7th (uneven bars), 8th (balance beam)

2013 - World Championships (Antwerp): 21st (all-around)

2013 - Belgian Championships: 3rd (all-around)

2013 - Gymfinales (Ghent) : 1st (uneven bars)

2013 - World Challenger Cup (Anadia): 7th (uneven bars)

2013 - International Gymnix Canada (Montreal): 12th (all-around), 6th (uneven bars), 4th (balance beam)

2012 - European Junior Championships (Brussels): 12th (team), 30th (all-around)