Belgium: Seven facts on the Sochi 2014 Paralympics

Having not won a medal at the Winter Paralympics since 1994, Belgium will hope to make an impact in Sochi. 31 Jan 2014
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Natasha de Troyer of Belgium and guide Diego van de Voorde compete in the Women's Visually Impaired Downhill during Day 7 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympics

Natasha de Troyer of Belgium and guide Diego van de Voorde compete in the Women's Visually Impaired Downhill during Day 7 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympics

ⒸGetty Images

• Belgium have won one Winter Paralympic medal: alpine skier Willy Mercier's bronze at the 1994 Winter Paralympic Games in the men’s super-G B1 event.

 

• At the 2010 Winter Paralympics, Belgium were represented by alpine skier Natasha De Troyer, who finished in the top eight in four separate visually impaired events, but failed to pick up a medal.

 

• Belgium have won 80 gold medals at the Summer Paralympics, the last of which was won in athletics by Marieke Vervoort in London on 5 September 2012.

 

• At the 2012 London Paralympics, Belgium pocketed three gold medals, one silver medal and three bronze medals for a total of seven.

 

• Belgium's most successful Paralympic participant of all time is Paul Van Winkel, who won seven gold medals in athletics from 1980 to 1988.

 

• Belgium's most successful sport at the Paralympic Games has been athletics, in which they have won 51 of their 80 gold medals.

 

• You can follow the Belgiam Paralympic team on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Athletes:

 

Alpine skiing

 

Jasper BALCAEN, Twitter: @JB_ski

 

Snowboard

 

Denis COLLE