Robert Van de Walle (born 20 May 1954) is a retired Belgian judoka. He was the first judoka to ever compete at five Olympics, from 1976 to 1992. Competing in the half-heavyweight category he won the gold medal in 1980 and a bronze in 1988 at the age of 34. Van de Walle won European titles in 1980, 1985 and 1986.[1] Together with Ingrid Berghmans he was the face of Belgian judo in the late 1970s and 1980s. After retiring from competitions he ran a coaching company together with his wife.[2] He was the head of the Belgian delegation at the 2004 Summer Olympics.[3] In summer 2021, 14 years after obtaining the rank of black belt 8th dan; Van De Walle, currently a member of Judo Club Crossing Schaerbeek, accepted his promotion to 9th dan from the International Judo Federation.[4]
![]() Van de Walle (2nd left) at the 1980 Olympics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | (1954-05-20) 20 May 1954 (age 68) Ostend, Belgium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 95 kg (209 lb; 15.0 st) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Judo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank | 9th dan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club | Crossing Schaerbeek | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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1972–1976: 80–93 kg, 1980–1996: 86–95 kg, 2000–: 95–100 kg | |
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European Judo Championships — Men's Openweight | |
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European Judo Championships — Men's Half Heavyweight | |
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1965–76: −93 kg • 1977–97: −95 kg • 1998–present: −100 kg | |
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Belgian Sportsperson of the Year | |
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Men |
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Women |
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Team |
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Talent |
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Paralympic |
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Coach |
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Belgian National Sports Merit Award | |
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Flemish Sportsjewel | |
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