Benny Vansteelant

Benny Vansteelant (November 19, 1976 – September 14, 2007) was a Belgian duathlete. He was the icon of its sport for the last decade. He was born in Torhout.

On September 8 2007, Vansteelant was hit by a car during training. He suffered a broken leg, facial injuries, a torn spleen and damage to lungs and heart. In the days after the accident, Vansteelant appeared to be improving, and was getting close to leaving the intensive care section of the hospital in Roeselare on September 13. But one day later, Vansteelant suffered a cardiac arrest. Even though Vansteelant received CPR in time, he died in the early morning. The specific cause of the heart attack was a pulmonary embolism.

Honours

*World Championship Duathlon (short distance):
**Winner (4): 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004
*World Championship Duathlon (long distance):
**Winner (4): 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006
*European Championship Duathlon:
**Winner (5): 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007

External links

* [http://www.bennyvansteelant.com Benny Vansteelant official site] nl icon
* [http://www.vrtnieuws.net/cm/flandersnews.be/Sports/070914_vansteelant "Duathlete dies aged 30"]