Aurèle Vandendriessche

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameAurèle•Vandendriessche
Used nameAurèle•Vandendriessche
Born4 July 1932 in Anzegem, West-Vlaanderen (BEL)
Died17 October 2023 in Waregem, West-Vlaanderen (BEL)
Measurements173 cm / 60 kg
AffiliationsWaregem AC
NOC Belgium

Biography

Aurèle Vandendriessche had almost no experience when he was selected to represent Belgium in the marathon at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, although he still managed to place 24th. He quickly demonstrated talent in this event, however, and won the Tour of Rome in 1958 and 1959. This made him a favorite at the 1960 Rome Olympics, but he had to drop out of the race due to dehydration. He has also been 11th at the 1958 European Championships.

Vandendriessche collected even more laurels over the next years, taking silver at the European Championships in 1962 behind Great Britain’s Brian Kilby, and winning the Boston Marathon in 1963 and 1964. He was suffering from injuries at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, however, and finished seventh. He won the Enschede and Košice Peace Marathons in 1965 and took silver again at the 1966 European Championships behind another Briton, Jim Hogan, before retiring from active competition.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-17:44 (1965).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1956 Summer Olympics Athletics BEL Aurèle Vandendriessche
Marathon, Men (Olympic) 24
1960 Summer Olympics Athletics BEL Aurèle Vandendriessche
Marathon, Men (Olympic) DNF
1964 Summer Olympics Athletics BEL Aurèle Vandendriessche
Marathon, Men (Olympic) 7

Special Notes