The multi-event athlete returns to championship competition following an Achilles tendon injury that disrupted her 2025 season.
Return to Competition Following Achilles Tendon Troubles
Noor Vidts returns to a major championship field, marking a careful comeback from the Achilles tendon issues that derailed her previous season. Speaking about her physical preparation, she acknowledged that while she was aiming for a summer return, she refused to rush the process if her body was not ready. She clarified regarding her participation at age 30 that she would not have taken the risk of showing up if she were afraid of getting hurt, adding that if it had been too early, she would have postponed her comeback.
Noor Vidts stated via Starsporttv that she hoped her body would react better than it did in Götzis, where she had made her return to competition last May. She added that they had been able to train well these past five weeks, even though she still needed to find her rhythm in certain events, and mentioned that she felt better than she did before Götzis.
Reflecting on her return to competition in May at Götzis, Vidts noted that her training over the past five weeks has progressed well despite the need to find alternatives during her injury layoff. She noted that they had never stopped training, even though they had to find alternatives to keep her preparation on track, adding that she had a goal of returning for the summer after a 2025 season largely disrupted by tendon problems in her Achilles.
Opening Events at the Birmingham European Championships
The heptathlon competition at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, reached its second discipline. The 30-year-old athlete previously earned a bronze medal at the previous European Championships two years prior in Rome and placed fourth at the 2022 European Championships.
Following the hurdles, Vidts cleared 1m65, 1m68, and 1m71 on her opening attempts in the high jump. After needing a second try at 1m74, she cleared 1m77 on her second attempt, improving her season-best high jump mark by one centimeter before bowing out at 1m80, having previously achieved a personal best of 1m84 in her career.
| Athlete | Country/Affiliation | Points After Two Events | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrianna Sulek-Schubert | Poland | 2135 | 1st |
| Kate O’Connor | Ireland | 2.134 | 2nd |
| Sophie Weissenberg | Germany | 2.074 | 3rd |
| Noor Vidts | Belgium | 2,009 | 7th |
At the top of the standings, Polish competitor Adrianna Sulek-Schubert claimed the lead with 2135 points, closely followed by Ireland’s Kate O’Connor with 2.134 points—both athletes having posted the highest jump of the event at 1m86. Germany’s Sophie Weissenberg holds the third position with 2.074 points.
Mindset and Preparation for the Remainder of the Heptathlon
She pointed out that her primary goal is to evaluate her standing only after completing the 800 meters, which serves as the seventh and final event of the program.
Noor Vidts stated via Starsporttv that she had no expectations, just as she had always done, explaining that she needed to do her best, pay attention to technique, and then see where she stood after the 800 m.
Describing her enthusiasm for returning to the multievents arena, she shared that she had missed it because she liked it very much and noted that while the post-Paris rest period provided benefits, she felt a strong desire to resume competition. While the Olympic Games remain the anchor for her long-term training structure, Vidts regards the European Championships as a vital stepping stone in her competitive recovery rather than an isolated target, observing that being here was also an important step.
