

Belgian gymnast dazzled the world with her finesse on the uneven bars and stood proudly atop the Paris Challenge Cup podium—but now, she is making waves for a reason that’s got nothing to do with gymnastics. At 25, the Belgian phenom has flipped the spotlight onto her personal life, leaving fans buzzing with excitement. What are the headlines all about? Let’s just say it’s a golden moment of a different kind for Nina Derwael.
Just when you thought Nina Derwael couldn’t surprise us anymore, she goes and makes a headline off the mat. The Olympic star switched gears from gold medals to golden moments, announcing her engagement on Instagram—and let’s just say, fans are loving this new chapter in her story.
Nina Derwael took to her Instagram to reveal one of her most important life updates. The gymnast shared a picture of her fiancé, flaunting the ring on her finger. And the caption says it all, “Found my person, got a ring to prove it 💍. Mr. And Mrs. coming soon ❤️” Yes, the top gymnast is getting married shortly to Thibau Dierickx, who as per his Instagram bio is a Kinesist.
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Nina Derwael and Thibau Dierickx first crossed paths in the elite training circles of the top sports hall in Ghent. As a physiotherapist for the gymnasts, Dierickx quickly became a familiar face. Now, alongside performance expert Stefan Deckx, he’s guiding Derwael toward her next big goal—the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
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Nina Derwael’s golden comeback: From injury to Olympic dreams
After a rollercoaster year in 2023—thanks to a major shoulder injury—Nina Derwael is back in action, and she’s not holding back. The Belgian gymnastics queen made a powerful return at the FIG Apparatus World Cup in Cairo this February, where she didn’t just show up—she stole the spotlight with a stunning gold on the balance beam. It wasn’t just a medal; it was a bold reminder to the world that she’s still very much in the game.
Just weeks later, she kept the momentum going at the Baku World Cup in March, where she secured a well-earned bronze on the beam. That performance brought her crucial Olympic qualifying points—enough to secure her quota spot for Paris. For most athletes, that would be a relief. For Nina? She said it felt just as good as her Tokyo gold. Now that’s saying something.
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Is Nina Derwael's engagement the ultimate balance of love and a high-flying career?
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via Imago
Belgian gymnast Nina Derwael pictured in action during the qualifications on the first day of the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool, Saturday 29 October 2022. The Worlds take place from October 29 until November 6, 2022 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. ERICxLALMAND PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBELxFRAxNED x47960258x
Now, Nina Derwael is eyeing Los Angeles 2028, and she’s not shy about it. As per Olympic.com, she said in 2024, “It’s hard to say how high I can aim. Paris will come soon after my operation.” Furthermore, she added, “I think I should not set my ambitions too high for these Games and aim more at 2028 to get back to the bars.” The road ahead won’t be easy—but if her comeback after injury was any indication, she’s got the grit, talent, and fire to keep going. One thing’s for sure: Nina Derwael’s story is far from over.
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Is Nina Derwael's engagement the ultimate balance of love and a high-flying career?