For Nicola Philippaerts, this is his first gold medal in a team event. “It’s hard to express how I feel and what we’ve accomplished here today. It’s fantastic, the cherry on top of a beautiful cake. We came here with a strong, yet young team. The high level each of us has achieved here has resulted in a European team title,” says Nicola Philippaerts.

After the American tour, Nicola Philippaerts decided to be very selective with Katanga. Long rest periods were alternated with key competitions like La Baule, Aachen, and now the European Championships. At 15 years old, Katanga van het Dingeshof is in peak form. “Katanga is in absolute top form. At critical moments, she has jumped clear so many times. It’s unbelievable what she does and how she does it. That gold medal she’s won here is a huge reward for her as well. I’m happy for myself but even happier for her. And I’m also grateful. Thanks to the efforts of the Lens and Adriaenssens families, and my father, we’ve been able to keep Katanga and build an amazing sports career together. This European Championship medal is the most beautiful thing I could give her. She’s worked so hard for it. Being able to experience this with her is incredibly special,” says Nicola Philippaerts.

“We’re starting today with a lot of excitement but no expectations,” says Nicola Philippaerts. “The level is incredibly high and with two tough rounds, anything can still happen. The confidence we already had has been boosted even more today. We’re going to make the most of it together.”