Hanne Desmet

Hanne Desmet is an Olympic medalist and World Champion short track speed skater, representing Belgium with numerous national and international titles. After securing her historic bronze medal in the Women’s 1000 meters at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Hanne Desmet became the first short track skater to win an Olympic medal for Belgium. Desmet has consistently dominated the national circuit, establishing herself as a three-time Belgian all-round champion and holding Belgian records across all distances. Her consistent performance was recognized early with the 2015 Sports Merit Trophy.

Her seminal achievement occurred on February 11, 2022, with her Olympic bronze, an unprecedented milestone for Belgian short track speed skating. In recognition of this feat, she was honored with the Deurne Sports Trophy as Athlete of the Year in 2022. Her momentum continued into subsequent seasons with remarkable success at the European Championships. Desmet earned gold medals in the 1000m event at both the 2023 and 2024 European Short Track Speed Skating Championships, held in Gda?sk.

At the 2023 Championships, she also secured silver medals in the 1500m and the 2000m mixed relay. Her strong showing at the 2024 Championships included an additional bronze medal in the 500m and another bronze in the 2000m mixed relay. In March 2025, Desmet achieved another monumental career milestone by winning the gold medal in the 1000 meters at the 2025 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Beijing, China. This victory made her the first Belgian woman skating world champion since 1948, solidifying her status as a leading figure in international short track speed skating.