Unless an athlete is competing in the decathlon or heptathlon, they are trained in a given specialty or specialties.
At the world championship level, it would be absurd to imagine a trained swimmer competing in a round of Greco- Roman Wrestling, or a world class deadlifter competing in a gymnastics floor routine or on the parallel bars.
Unless there was a very compelling reason.
Such as saving your countries team from disqualification.
Such was the case on June 26th, at Slaski Stadium, at the European Athletics Team Championships in Krakow, Poland.
Competing to see who would ultimately represent their countries at the Olympics.
In the 100 Meter Hurdles, both of Belgium’s hurdlers, runners Anna Zagr and Hanne Claes, were too injuried to compete.
In these meets, every point counts towards the total.
And with enough points, a country is able to maintain its standing to stay as a Division 1 team in the Championships.
Without representing themselves in the 100 Meter Hurdles, Belgium was sure to be disqualified from Division One and drop to Division Two.
Even coming in last place in the race would give them two points, and those were important to the whole.
The entire team was assembled to discuss the situation.
Would someone go out and compete against top level runners in an event that they are decidedly untrained for?
So, facing the loss of the points, one hand and one hand only rose.
That of 29- year-old Jolien Maliga Boumkwo.
She is well known in her home country, as a 12 time national champion and 9 time indoor national champion in the shot putt, hammer throw and the discus throw.
She had just placed 7th in the shot put, and recently broke her own national record.
She has a body trained to excel at her sport, in both height and weight.
And here she was, raising her hand, smiling all the while and preparing to compete with those a decade younger, a foot shorter, and less than half her weight in a sport decidedly not her own.
Her coach agreed … as long as she did it carefully.
“I was like: it would be a pity if just we would lose by one point so I will just take this on my account and just go for it and enjoy every moment.
For me, that’s important as well when you’re doing sports at a high level.
I checked with my coach if there were any risks for me doing it and he gave me a green light.”
Talk about taking one for the team…..
“I thought the chance would have been very small of me having to do this,” she said. “If I’m going to do this, I want to make the best of it and try to enjoy it.”
She beamed her smile and waved when introduced at the starting line.
She wasn’t concerned about her speed nor form, but remembering the hurdling techniques she learned in Junior High School.
She noted afterwards that she wasn’t nervous about the race.
“It was a beautiful atmosphere. I took my race seriously. I took it hurdle by hurdle.”
Jolien finished the race without knocking down any of the hurdles with a time of 32.81 seconds.
A personal best, all things considered.
19 seconds after first place winner Teresa Errandonea of Spain, who crossed the line at 13.22.
She was applauded by the spectators and was congratulated by her rivals as Maja Maunsbach of Sweden greeted Jolien at the finish line with a double-handed high five. Portugal’s Catarina Queiros extended a hand.
And she indeed earned the two points for Team Belgium.
And the commendations came pouring in, with Jolien being hailed as a heroic inspiration for her selflessless and her willingness to prioritize the team's interests above her own interests.
An exceptional display. Such resilience and positive spirits.
She is a true role model in the world of athletics.
"I didn't think about it, I just went for it.
In my head it looks a bit more elegant than what I’ve seen on the video, but it could be worse as well.
It was really heartwarming all the support, the crowd was screaming and I cannot believe how many people are so kind.
The focus was trying to be in the competition and enjoying every moment and sometimes I have a tendency to take things too serious, and then it is hard as you are not relaxed.
My team holds the utmost importance to me.
These are my friends.”