Robert Van de Walle

Robert Van de Walle (born 20 May 1954) is a retired Belgian judoka. He was the first judoka to ever compete at five Olympics, from 1976 to 1992. Competing in the half-heavyweight category he won the gold medal in 1980 and a bronze in 1988 at the age of 34. Van de Walle won European titles in 1980, 1985 and 1986.[1] Together with Ingrid Berghmans he was the face of Belgian judo in the late 1970s and 1980s. After retiring from competitions he ran a coaching company together with his wife.[2] He was the head of the Belgian delegation at the 2004 Summer Olympics.[3] In summer 2021, 14 years after obtaining the rank of black belt 8th dan; Van De Walle, currently a member of Judo Club Crossing Schaerbeek, accepted his promotion to 9th dan from the International Judo Federation.[4]

Robert Van de Walle

Van de Walle (2nd left) at the 1980 Olympics
Personal information
Nationality	Belgium
Born	(1954-05-20) 20 May 1954 Ostend, Belgium
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	95 kg (209 lb; 15.0 st)
Sport
Sport	Judo
Rank	9th dan
Club	Crossing Schaerbeek
Medal record Representing  Belgium Olympic Games 1980 Moscow -95 kg 1988 Seoul -95 kg World Championships 1979 Paris -95 kg 1981 Maastricht -95 kg 1981 Maastricht Open 1983 Moscow -95 kg 1983 Moscow Open 1985 Seoul -95 kg 1989 Belgrade -95 kg European Championships 1980 Vienna Open 1985 Hamar -95 kg 1986 Belgrade -95 kg 1976 Kiev -93 kg 1977 Ludwigshafen -95 kg 1979 Brussels -95 kg 1983 Paris Open 1984 Liege -95 kg 1977 Ludwigshafen Open 1978 Helsinki -95 kg 1979 Brussels Open 1980 Vienna -95 kg 1981 Debrecen -95 kg 1983 Paris -95 kg 1984 Liege Open 1987 Paris -95 kg 1988 Pamplona -95 kg