Kalmthout (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Belgian wheelchair athlete Peter Genyn, 48-year-old, from Brasschaat, was honored at Maatjes Primary School in Kalmthout after winning 2 gold medals at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in India.
As VRT News reported, Paralympic wheelchair athlete Peter Genyn was honored at Maatjes Primary School in Nieuwmoer, Kalmthout, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium, where his son Vico is a pupil. The school community, teachers, and local officials gathered to celebrate his sporting success.
Officials mentioned that Genyn is one of Belgium’s most successful wheelchair athletes.
“It’s wonderful to be honored here,”
he said.
“My son Vico is in the third year of kindergarten, and it’s special to share this with him. Seeing how proud he is makes moments like these even more meaningful.”
How did wheelchair athlete Peter Genyn, earn double gold and Kalmthout’s honor?
Pupil from school sang songs and waved handmade flags to celebrate his achievement. Genyn recently returned from the World Para Athletics Championships in India, where he won 2 gold medals.
“I went to India with the ambition to win medals, but I didn’t expect two golds,”
he said.
“It was extremely hot and humid, and you really feel that when you’re sprinting. Still, all the training paid off.”
Peter Genyn, born on December 24, 1976, in Brasschaat, is one of Belgium’s most successful Paralympic athletes. He competes in the T51 wheelchair racing category. Before his accident in 1990, he played wheelchair rugby at the international level. Later, he switched to athletics and quickly became a leading figure in para sports.
Genyn won gold medals in the 100m and 400m races at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, and again at the 2025 World Championships in India held in September 2025. He also claimed Paralympic gold medals at the 2016 Rio Games and the 2020 Tokyo Games.
