Kelly Van Petegem
Van Petegem at the IBSF World Championships 2020 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Born | 3 December 1999[1] |
| Height | 169 cm (5.54 ft)[1] |
| Sport | |
| Country | Belgium |
| Sport | Bobsleigh |
Event(s) | Monobob, Two-woman |
| Turned pro | 2019[1] |
Kelly Van Petegem (born 3 December 1999) is a Belgian bobsledder. She represented Belgium at the 2026 Winter Olympics.[2]
Career
Van Petegem initially competed in track and field events as a sprinter. She eventually transitioned to throwing events, such as javelin and shot put.[3] At age 18, she participated in a bobsleigh test event in Oordegem, and was recruited to Belgium's bobsleigh team afterwards.[4] She participated as a brakewoman in two-woman and as a pilot in monobob. At the 2022 Winter Olympics, she was a reserve brakewoman for the team of An Vannieuwenhuyse.[4] When Vannieuwenhuyse retired after 2022, Van Petegem became a pilot in the two-woman. She found success in the IBSF's Europe Cup during the 2023–24 season, winning two events and taking multiple medals.[5] Beginning with the 2024–25 season, she has competed primarily in the Bobsleigh World Cup.
Van Petegem qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics, earning the last available spot in monobob with her performance at the World Cup event at Alternberg, despite her suffering from a hamstring injury. She did not qualify for two-woman, in part due to an error in which the team was accidentally entered in to a wrong event, forcing them to miss points at their intended race.[6] In the Olympics, Van Petegem finished 19th.
Personal life
Van Petegem studied Biochemistry Laboratory Techniques at Hogeschool Gent.[7]
Bobsleigh results
All results are sourced from the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF).[1]
Olympic Games
| Event | Monobob |
|---|---|
| 2026 Milano Cortina | 19th |
World Championships
| Event | Monobob | Two-woman |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Altenberg | — | 11th |
| 2024 Winterberg | 18th | 18th |
References
- ^ a b c d "Kelly Van Petegem". IBSF.org. International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Kelly van PETEGEM". Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ "Kelly VAN PETEGEM". World Athletics. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ a b De Clerq, Erwin (13 February 2022). "Kelly Van Petegem uit Merelbeke met Belgisch bobsleeteam op de Olympische winterspelen in Peking" [Kelly Van Petegem from Merelbeke with the Belgian bobsleigh team at the Winter Olympics in Beijing]. nuus.be (in Dutch). NUUS VZW. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ "Kelly Van Petegem verovert eindzege in Europabeker monobob" [Kelly Van Petegem wins European Monobob Cup]. sporza.be (in Dutch). Sporza. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ^ "Van miserie naar mirakel: bobsleester Kelly Van Petegem trotseert alle pech en grijpt laatste olympische plaats" [From misery to miracle: bobsledder Kelly Van Petegem defies all bad luck and takes the last Olympic place]. sporza.be (in Dutch). Sporza. 17 January 2026.
- ^ "Kelly Van Petegem". bobenskeleton.be. Belgian Federation for Bobsleigh and Skeleton. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
External links
- Kelly Van Petegem at the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation
- Kelly Van Petegem at Olympics.com
- Kelly Van Petegem at Olympedia
- Kelly Van Petegem at Team Belgium (in Dutch and French)
- Kelly Van Petegem on Instagram