Sarah Chaari Makes Belgian Sporting History With 2026 National Merit Award
Belgian taekwondo star Sarah Chaari has reached another milestone in a career already filled with major achievements. The 21-year-old athlete, who is of Moroccan descent, has received Belgium’s National Sports Merit Award for 2026—becoming the first taekwondo competitor ever to win the prestigious honour.
The award recognises an exceptional season in which Chaari captured European and international titles, strengthening her reputation as one of the leading figures in world taekwondo. Her success also marks a significant moment for the sport in Belgium, bringing national attention to a discipline that rarely features among the country’s most celebrated sporting achievements.
A season crowned by European and world gold
Chaari’s 2026 campaign included a European Championship victory in the under-73-kilogram category in Munich. She followed that result with another gold medal at the World Open Championship in Taiwan, completing a remarkable run across two major competitions.
Winning at both continental and international level demands more than technical ability. Taekwondo athletes must combine speed, precision, tactical awareness and composure, often adapting their approach from one bout to the next. Chaari’s results suggest a fighter capable of handling those demands—and of delivering when the stakes are highest.
Belgian broadcaster Star Sports reported that her award followed this outstanding season. The recognition reflects not only her latest titles, but also the consistency she has shown over several years of competition.
A championship record built across weight classes
Chaari’s rise has been unusually rapid. She won her first world championship title in 2022 in the under-62kg division, then claimed a second world crown in 2025 at under-73kg. Success across different weight categories highlights her ability to adjust as her competitive career develops.
Her record also includes major achievements on the European stage. In 2023, she won gold at the European Games in the under-62kg category. The following year, she captured the European Championship title in the under-67kg division, adding another major result to a résumé that already included world gold.
Chaari then represented Belgium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she earned bronze in the under-67kg competition. An Olympic medal carries a distinct significance: it places an athlete among the best in the world at the sport’s most visible international event. For a young competitor, that achievement also provides valuable experience for future championships.
Why the National Sports Merit Award matters
Established in 1928, Belgium’s National Sports Merit Award honours an athlete or team for exceptional sporting accomplishments. It is a rare distinction, and winners cannot receive it more than once. That one-time rule gives each selection added weight, making the award a lasting marker of a career-defining contribution.
A panel of 14 judges selected Chaari for the 2026 edition. The group included former champions and prominent figures from Belgian sport, with seven members having received the honour themselves. Their decision recognises the scale of her recent results while placing her achievement within the broader history of Belgian athletics.
For taekwondo, the award is especially notable. No athlete from the sport had previously claimed the distinction, so Chaari’s victory gives the discipline a new place in Belgium’s sporting story. It may also help introduce more fans to taekwondo, a fast-paced combat sport in which accurate kicks, movement and tactical timing can decide a bout in moments.
Continuing a recent run of women’s winners
Chaari is the latest woman to claim the award, extending a recent pattern among Belgium’s sporting standouts. Cyclist Lotte Kopecky won in 2024, followed by basketball player Emma Meesseman in 2025. Chaari’s selection continues that sequence while bringing a new sport and a new generation of champion into the spotlight.
The recognition also reflects the growing visibility of women’s sport in Belgium. Athletes across cycling, basketball and taekwondo have delivered results on the international stage, demonstrating the breadth of the country’s elite talent. Chaari’s achievement adds to that momentum and offers a powerful example for young athletes considering a path in high-performance sport.
What comes next for the young champion?
At just 21, Chaari has already won two world titles, multiple European honours and an Olympic bronze medal. The National Sports Merit Award is a fitting acknowledgement of those accomplishments, but it also raises expectations for what may follow. Maintaining success will mean continuing to refine her technique, manage the physical demands of elite competition and adapt as rivals study her fighting style.
There is no reliable football prediction or sporting forecast that can determine how any athlete’s next season will unfold. Taekwondo, like football and other high-level sports, is shaped by preparation, form, competition and the unpredictable moments that make elite contests compelling. Still, Chaari’s record gives supporters plenty of reason to follow her future appearances with interest.
Her 2026 award is more than a personal milestone. It is a breakthrough for Belgian taekwondo, a celebration of a standout season and recognition of an athlete whose achievements have already crossed generations of experience. With her world titles, European victories and Olympic medal behind her, Sarah Chaari has established herself as one of Belgium’s most accomplished young champions—and made history in the process.
