Belgium competed at the
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, whi ...
in
Melbourne,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
and
Stockholm
Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...
,
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
(
equestrian events). 54 competitors, 51 men and 3 women, took part in 37 events in 12 sports.
Medalists
Silver
*
André Nelis
André Nelis (29 October 1935 – 9 December 2012) was a sailor and Olympian. He was born in Borgerhout, Belgium. He sailed in the Finn dinghy class, and won a silver medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne and bronze at the 1960 Sum ...
—
Sailing, Men's Finn Individual Competition
*
Joseph Mewis —
Wrestling, Men's Freestyle Featherweight
Athletics
Men's Marathon
*
Aurèle Vandendriessche — 2:47:18 (→ 24th place)
Boxing
Canoeing
Cycling
;
Sprint
Sprint may refer to:
Aerospace
*Spring WS202 Sprint, a Canadian aircraft design
*Sprint (missile), an anti-ballistic missile
Automotive and motorcycle
*Alfa Romeo Sprint, automobile produced by Alfa Romeo between 1976 and 1989
*Chevrolet Sprint, ...
*
Evrard Godefroid
Evrard Godefroid (29 June 1932 – 31 December 2013) was a Belgian cyclist. He competed in the time trial and sprint events at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were ...
— 10th place
;
Time trial
*
Evrard Godefroid
Evrard Godefroid (29 June 1932 – 31 December 2013) was a Belgian cyclist. He competed in the time trial and sprint events at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were ...
— 1:16.5 (→ 19th place)
;
Team pursuit
*
André Bar
André Bar (born 1 September 1935) is a Belgian former cyclist. He competed in the team pursuit event at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sp ...
François De Wagheneire
François De Wagheneire (19 September 1937 – September 2015) was a Belgian cyclist. He competed in three events at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an intern ...
Guillaume Van Tongerloo
Guillaume Van Tongerloo (29 December 1933 – 19 January 2017) was a Belgian cyclist. He competed in the team pursuit event at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were a ...
Gustaaf De Smet
Gustaaf De Smet (15 May 1935 – 28 May 2020) was a Belgian cyclist. He competed in three events at the 1956 Summer Olympics. He spent his entire professional career riding for . He became East-Flemish champion in 1964.
De Smet died on 28 Ma ...
— 5th place
;
Team road race
*
Norbert Verougstraete
Norbert Verougstraete (born 16 December 1934 – 17 February 2016) was a Belgian cyclist. He competed in the individual and team road race events at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of ...
Gustaaf De Smet
Gustaaf De Smet (15 May 1935 – 28 May 2020) was a Belgian cyclist. He competed in three events at the 1956 Summer Olympics. He spent his entire professional career riding for . He became East-Flemish champion in 1964.
De Smet died on 28 Ma ...
François Vandenbosch
François () is a French masculine given name and surname, equivalent to the English name Francis.
People with the given name
* Francis I of France, King of France (), known as "the Father and Restorer of Letters"
* Francis II of France, King o ...
— 89 points (→ 7th place)
;
Individual road race
*
Norbert Verougstraete
Norbert Verougstraete (born 16 December 1934 – 17 February 2016) was a Belgian cyclist. He competed in the individual and team road race events at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of ...
— 5:26:47 (→ 23rd place)
*
Gustaaf De Smet
Gustaaf De Smet (15 May 1935 – 28 May 2020) was a Belgian cyclist. He competed in three events at the 1956 Summer Olympics. He spent his entire professional career riding for . He became East-Flemish champion in 1964.
De Smet died on 28 Ma ...
— 5:26:47 (→ 24th place)
*
François Vandenbosch
François () is a French masculine given name and surname, equivalent to the English name Francis.
People with the given name
* Francis I of France, King of France (), known as "the Father and Restorer of Letters"
* Francis II of France, King o ...
— 5:38:16 (→ 42nd place)
*
François De Wagheneire
François De Wagheneire (19 September 1937 – September 2015) was a Belgian cyclist. He competed in three events at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an intern ...
— did not finish (→ no ranking)
Fencing
Six fencers, all men, represented Belgium in 1956.
;
Men's foil
*
André Verhalle
André Verhalle (24 February 1924 – 28 February 2008) was a Belgian fencer. He competed at the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XV ...
*
Ghislain Delaunois
Ghislain Albert Hector Delaunois (20 December 1923 – 12 December 1992) was a Belgian fencer. He competed at the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an inter ...
*
François Dehez
François Dehez (6 November 1931 – 18 July 2017) was a Belgian fencer. He competed at the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ...
;
Men's team foil
*
Jacques Debeur
Jacques Debeur (6 December 1936 – 23 July 2004) was a Belgian fencer. He competed at the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ...
,
Ghislain Delaunois
Ghislain Albert Hector Delaunois (20 December 1923 – 12 December 1992) was a Belgian fencer. He competed at the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an inter ...
,
Marcel Van Der Auwera
Marcel Van Der Auwera (24 August 1923 – 1 May 2008) was a Belgian fencer. He competed at the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII ...
,
André Verhalle
André Verhalle (24 February 1924 – 28 February 2008) was a Belgian fencer. He competed at the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XV ...
;
Men's épée
*
Ghislain Delaunois
Ghislain Albert Hector Delaunois (20 December 1923 – 12 December 1992) was a Belgian fencer. He competed at the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an inter ...
*
Jacques Debeur
Jacques Debeur (6 December 1936 – 23 July 2004) was a Belgian fencer. He competed at the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ...
*
Roger Achten
Roger Achten (20 December 1927 – 10 April 2004) was a Belgian fencer. He competed in the individual and team épée events at the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially ...
;
Men's team épée
*
François Dehez
François Dehez (6 November 1931 – 18 July 2017) was a Belgian fencer. He competed at the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ...
,
Roger Achten
Roger Achten (20 December 1927 – 10 April 2004) was a Belgian fencer. He competed in the individual and team épée events at the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially ...
,
Ghislain Delaunois
Ghislain Albert Hector Delaunois (20 December 1923 – 12 December 1992) was a Belgian fencer. He competed at the 1952 and 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an inter ...
,
Marcel Van Der Auwera
Marcel Van Der Auwera (24 August 1923 – 1 May 2008) was a Belgian fencer. He competed at the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII ...
,
Jacques Debeur
Jacques Debeur (6 December 1936 – 23 July 2004) was a Belgian fencer. He competed at the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ...
;
Men's sabre
*
Marcel Van Der Auwera
Marcel Van Der Auwera (24 August 1923 – 1 May 2008) was a Belgian fencer. He competed at the 1952, 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII ...
Hockey
Rowing
Belgium had seven male rowers participate in three out of seven
rowing events in 1956.
;
Men's double sculls
*
Fernand Steenacker
Fernand Steenacker (26 February 1931 – 26 March 2018)[Fernand Steenacker's obituary< ...](_blank)
*
Henri Steenacker
Henri Steenacker (22 April 1926 – 25 August 1993) was a Belgian rower. He competed in the single sculls at the 1952 Summer Olympics and in the double sculls at the 1956 Summer Olympics, together with his brother Fernand, but failed to reach ...
;
Men's coxless pair
*
Bob Baetens
Robert Frédérik Louis Baetens (28 October 1930 – 19 October 2016) was a Belgian rower who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics and in the 1956 Summer Olympics. He was born in Antwerp. In 1952 he won the silver medal with his partner Mi ...
*
Michel Knuysen
Michel Jules Lodewijk Knuysen (25 October 1929 – 6 May 2013) was a Belgian rower who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics and in the 1956 Summer Olympics. He was born in Wijnegem
Wijnegem () is a municipality located in the Belgian provi ...
;
Men's coxed pair
*
Livien Ven
Livien Ven (16 February 1934 – 20 May 2015) was a Belgian rower. He competed in the men's coxed pair event at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an internation ...
*
Antoon Ven
Antoon Ven (born 21 July 1935) is a Belgian rower. He competed in the men's coxed pair event at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event ...
*
Jos Van Thillo
Jacques Van Thillo (born 21 December 1942) is a Belgian coxswain. He competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbour ...
(cox)
Sailing
Shooting
Two shooters represented Belgium in 1956.
;
50 m pistol
The 50 meter pistol, formerly and unofficially still often called Free Pistol, is one of the ISSF shooting events. It provides the purest precision shooting among the pistol events, and is one of the oldest shooting disciplines, dating back to th ...
*
Marcel Lafortune
Marcel Jean Josse Lafortune (29 September 1900 – ?) was a Belgian rifle shooter who competed at four Olympic Games (1936, 1948, 1956, 1960). He was born in Leuven.
His best result was 8th at the 50m Free Pistol at the 1948 Olympics in London. ...
;
50 m rifle, three positions
*
Frans Lafortune
Frans is an Afrikaans, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish given name, sometimes as a short form of ''François''. One cognate of Frans in English is ''Francis''.
Given name
* Frans van Aarssens (1572–1641), Dutch diplomat ...
;
50 m rifle, prone
*
Frans Lafortune
Frans is an Afrikaans, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish given name, sometimes as a short form of ''François''. One cognate of Frans in English is ''Francis''.
Given name
* Frans van Aarssens (1572–1641), Dutch diplomat ...
Swimming
Weightlifting
Wrestling
References
External links
Official Olympic ReportsInternational Olympic Committee results database
Nations at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956
Events
January
* January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan.
* January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian Missionary, missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, Jim ...
1956 in Belgian sport
{{1956-Olympic-stub