Rutger Smith leaves Atletiek Vlaanderen following disputes with coaches and Nafi Thiam

Board terminates coordinator contract

Atletiek Vlaanderen decided on 10 September 2026 to end its collaboration with high-performance coordinator Rutger Smith. The 45-year-old Dutchman, a former Olympic shot putter and discus thrower who competed at the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Games, had led the elite program of the Flemish athletics wing since 2019. During his tenure, Flemish athletes recorded podium finishes across relay squads, combined events, and distance running at the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Board chairman Patrick Van Waes announced the departure in an official statement.

We want to thank Rutger for his years of dedication to the Flemish athletics world and his contribution to the federation. Together with Rutger, Flemish athletics achieved very good results.

Flemish Sports Minister Annick De Ridder welcomed the board's decision, stating that the separation aligns with an administrative overhaul requested by her department to restructure the federation.

Atletiek Vlaanderen has worked in recent months on rolling out the improvement plan. That plan was initiated at my request to allow the federation to make a genuine restart.

Tokyo dispute with Nafi Thiam

Smith faced severe public criticism following the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Trouble erupted when triple Olympic heptathlon champion Nafissatou Thiam refused to sign the Belgian federation code of conduct regarding image rights and sponsor obligations. A leaked internal email revealed that Smith had suggested excluding Thiam from the Belgian selection to set an example.

Thiam competed in Tokyo under pressure but withdrew in tears after five of seven heptathlon events, stating she was mentally broken by the open dispute with federation officials. Thiam subsequently called for Smith's dismissal. The fallout prompted a hearing in the sports committee of the Flemish Parliament, where Smith appeared late in 2025 to account for his handling of the situation.

Coach rebellion and Ghent centralization

Opposition to Smith's management also expanded among domestic trainers. In late 2024, 21 elite Flemish coaches published an open letter demanding an immediate end to what they termed authoritarian governance that created an atmosphere of fear. The coaches protested centralized training directives that required athletes to relocate sessions to Ghent.

The coaches also objected to budget allocations that forced personal trainers to pay their own travel and accommodation expenses at training camps and international championships. Personal trainers reported feeling sidelined because Smith routinely distributed critical technical instructions only to athletes.

Restructuring and future outlook

To address internal discord, Atletiek Vlaanderen appointed a transition manager in March 2026 to monitor Smith's leadership and oversee contract conditions. A negative performance evaluation issued before the Memorial Van Damme meeting accelerated the board's decision to remove him from his post.

Atletiek Vlaanderen has established a temporary administrative structure to handle daily affairs while launching a formal search for a new high-performance technical director. The federation confirmed it will spend the coming months constructing a renewed elite sports program in consultation with coaches, athletes, and clubs, with targets set for the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.