Belgium shot putter and hammer thrower Jolien Boumkwo showed what it really means to be a team player at the European Championships in Poland, running in the 100-meter hurdles so her team could stay in the competition.
Donning a smile beforehand, Boumkwo stepped in to run the second heat of the hurdles competition after runners Anne Zagre and Hanne Claes couldn’t compete due to injuries.
Despite being surrounded by hurdlers, Boumkwo didn’t back down from the race. Once it begin, she ran and carefully went over each hurdle, as she didn’t knock down a single one to avoid any deductions. She finished with a time of 32.81 seconds, 19 seconds after second-to-last finisher Maja Maunsbach of Sweden.
Why did Jolien Boumkwo run the 100-meter hurdles?
Boumkwo’s run in the race saved her team in the competition.
If no Belgian athlete competed in the race, the country would have been disqualified. Instead, Boumkwo’s run earned Belgium two points in the First Division standings.
“My team is the most important thing for me,” said Boumkwo, according to Fox Sports.
Boumkwo was praised on social media for taking one for the team, being called a hero for her inspiring effort.
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The two points from Boumkwo could be crucial, as the last three countries in the standings will be relegated from Division I. Belgium is in 16th and last place with 159 points, as of Saturday, but are not far behind Turkey (160), Norway (161) and Greece (171.5) to avoid relegation.
