2015 Worlds: Top 20 for Lisa and Rune, first final for Florian

Our Belgian gymnasts made history once again at the 2015 Glasgow World Championships. Three gymnasts, two girls and a boy, reached the all-around final.

Credit: Full Time Gymnastics

Let's start with the girls. After the qualifications, Lisa Verschueren (Sportiva Sint-Gillis-Waas) and Rune Hermans (Gym Haacht) both qualified for the all-around final. It is only the second time that two Belgian gymnasts reach the final. The last time was in 2013 when Gaelle Mys (OTV Nazareth) and Laura Waem (Sportiva Sint-Gillis-Waas) placed 18th and 21st. Last year in Nanning, Laura Waem was the only representative in the final, finishing in 24th place.

And this year, Lisa and Rune did even better! By placing 17th and 19th, they both placed in the top 20. This is the best result ever for two Belgian gymnasts in the all-around final. And again, the two Belgians have been very strong, not committing any mistake. Lisa scored 55.299 and Rune got 54.965.

Credit: Full Time Gymnastics

Florian Landuyt probably have mixed feelings regarding his own performance. First reserve after the qualifying session, he learned on Friday morning that he will get to compete in final, following the withdrawal of Germany's Fabian Hambüchen, who was sick. This is the first time a Belgian male gymnast reach the final of the all-around competition at a world championship.

Florian began his competition on vault, one of his strongest event, an ideal start for his confidence. He then fell on parallel bars, before coming back strong on horizontal bar. But the competition would end earlier than expected for the gymnast from Sportac Deinze. During one of his tumbling passes on floor (double twisting double back somersault), Florian landed on his back, then hold his ankle. Carried out of the floor by the medical team and after a few tests, it turns out that he ruptured his Achilles tendon. Back in Belgium, he already had surgery. This all-around final will probably not be one of Florian's best memories, but he still achieved something in Glasgow, reaching the final of a major championship, at only 19 years old.

Credit: Full Time Gymnastics

If this is certainly not the end we hoped, our gymnasts, both individually and as a team, have shown their potential and talent. Belgium is now a nation to watch. And the best is yet to come.