Born: 1994
Biography:
Nafissatou Thiam, also known as Nafi Thiam, is a Belgian athlete who has made a significant impact in multi-event competition. Born on August 19, 1994, Thiam has become a celebrated figure in the world of athletics, earning numerous accolades and breaking multiple records throughout her career.
Thiam’s journey in athletics began at the age of seven when she first participated in the sport. Showing promise and dedication from an early age, she won her first national age group titles in 2009. It was during this time that Thiam began specializing in the heptathlon, a grueling event that tests an athlete’s ability in seven different disciplines.
Inspired by Swedish heptathlete Carolina Klüft, Thiam continued to pursue her passion for multi-event competition. Her hard work paid off when she represented Belgium at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics, where she finished fourth in the heptathlon with an impressive total of 5366 points.
As a first-year junior, Thiam participated in the 2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics, further showcasing her talent in the heptathlon. Despite being younger than many of her competitors, she finished 14th with a total of 5384 points. Thiam’s determination and potential were becoming evident to the athletics world.
Thiam’s breakthrough moment came on February 3, 2013, when she shattered the junior world indoor record in the pentathlon at a meeting in Ghent. With a total of 4558 points, she surpassed the previous record set by none other than her idol, Carolina Klüft, in 2002. This achievement marked a historic milestone for Thiam as the first Belgian female athlete to break a world record.
Thiam’s rise to prominence continued as she competed in various international competitions, showcasing her versatility and talent in multi-event disciplines. In May 2017, at the Hypo-Meeting in Götzis, Austria, Thiam achieved a remarkable feat by becoming only the fourth woman in history to surpass the 7000-point barrier in the heptathlon.
The pinnacle of Thiam’s career came during the Olympic Games. In 2016, at the Rio Olympics, she secured a gold medal in the heptathlon event, cementing her status as a rising star in the world of athletics. Thiam’s tenacity and skill were once again on display at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she defended her Olympic title and claimed another gold medal in the heptathlon. This made her the first Belgian athlete, male or female, to successfully defend an Olympic title and only the second woman, after Jackie Joyner-Kersee, to win back-to-back Olympic titles in the heptathlon event.
Thiam’s dominance extended beyond the Olympics, as she also achieved remarkable success at the World Championships and European Championships. She clinched the gold medal at the 2017 and 2022 World Championships, further solidifying her position as one of the world’s top multi-event athletes. Thiam’s success in Europe was equally impressive, winning the gold medal at the 2018 and 2022 European Championships.
Recognized for her exceptional achievements, Thiam was voted the IAAF World Female Athlete of the Year in 2017, further highlighting her impact on the sport. Her contributions to athletics and her remarkable performances have made her an inspiration to many aspiring athletes, particularly women, around the world.
In addition to her exceptional performances in multi-event disciplines, Thiam has also set multiple records throughout her career. As of March 2023, she holds the Belgian records in the heptathlon and pentathlon, javelin, and long jump, both in outdoor and indoor settings. Thiam also holds the world record for the high jump discipline within the heptathlon competition, achieving this feat in 2019.
Thiam’s achievements extend beyond the world of athletics. She has become a role model for young athletes, particularly women, inspiring them to pursue their dreams and break barriers. Thiam’s success in defending her Olympic title and her historic achievements in breaking records have made her an important figure in women’s history and a symbol of empowerment for aspiring athletes worldwide.
Awards:
– Two-time Olympic gold medalist in the heptathlon (2016 Rio Olympics, 2020 Tokyo Olympics)
– Gold medalist at the 2017 and 2022 World Championships
– Gold medalist at the 2018 and 2022 European Championships
– Silver medalist at the 2019 World Championships
– Voted IAAF World Female Athlete of the Year in 2017