Nafi Thiam, the three-time Olympic heptathlon champion, opened her 2026 season with a strong performance at the Decastar de Talence, setting four season bests and finishing second in the first day of competition. Her coach praised her progress, noting she was maybe 98% on this day despite ongoing challenges.
French-based Belgian heptathlete Nafi Thiam returned to competition at the Decastar de Talence in September 2026, marking her first heptathlon since the 2025 World Championships. The 32-year-old, who has faced injury setbacks and inconsistent form in recent years, opened her season with a mixed performance that included four season bests across disciplines. The event, celebrating its 50th anniversary, also featured Belgian teammate Noor Vidts, who led after the first day with 3,830 points, according to Sporza.
Thiam’s Mixed Performance and Coach’s Assessment
Thiam’s first-day total of 3,816 points placed her second behind Vidts’ 3,830, according to Sporza. Her best marks came in the shot put (15.10 meters) and high jump (1.85 meters), both season highs. In the 100m hurdles, she clocked 13.73 seconds, while her 200m time of 24.96 seconds was slightly below her 2026 bests. Thiam, who previously competed in Talence in 2019, described the event as really a good experience with good atmosphere, as reported by Le Figaro.
Thiam’s coach, Michael Van der Plaetsen, described her performance as maybe 98% on this day in RTBF, acknowledging her physical and mental challenges. This aligns with her earlier comments in L’Avenir, where she noted, I need to enjoy the sport again to see what comes next.
Context of a Struggling Season
Thiam’s 2026 campaign has been marked by setbacks. A spring-time ischial injury forced her to miss the Götzis heptathlon, and she struggled at the Mémorial Van Damme in August, where she cleared 1.84 meters in the high jump. Despite these issues, she remains focused on qualifying for the 2027 World Championships in Beijing, requiring a minimum of 6,550 points. The season has been a bit complicated, but in this sport, you can't have only exceptional seasons, Thiam told L’Avenir.
Thiam’s participation in Talence also comes amid broader challenges for Belgian athletics. The Nafigate
scandal, which impacted the sport domestically, has lingered, though Thiam has emphasized her focus on personal growth. Her coach, Michael Van der Plaetsen, noted in L’Avenir that stopping was considered, but the decision to continue was clear.
Competition and Future Prospects
Vidts, the Belgian heptathlon star, led after the first day with 3,830 points, outpacing Thiam by 14 points. Vidts’ strong showing in the 200m (24.31 seconds) and shot put (14.44 meters) highlighted her form. Both athletes aim to meet the 6,550-point threshold for the 2027 Worlds, though Thiam’s recent results suggest she may need to improve significantly in the second day.
The Decastar de Talence, which has hosted legends like Kevin Mayer and Christian Plaziat, also features men’s decathlon stars such as Markus Rooth, the 2024 Olympic champion, as reported by Le Figaro. Thiam, who has not completed a heptathlon since her Paris 2024 Olympic victory, aims to finish the season on a positive note, as she told Le Figaro.
What Comes Next for Thiam?
The second day of the Decastar will determine Thiam’s path forward.
Thiam’s ability to balance physical recovery with mental resilience will be critical. As she told Le Figaro, This is a good opportunity to finish the season on a positive note. Whether that translates to a World Championships berth remains to be seen.