Beyond The Board Team

Jacques Borlée

Jacques Borlée is one of the most respected figures in Belgian athletics. A former Olympian in the 200m and 400m, he later became a world-class coach and the driving force behind Belgium’s most successful sprinting dynasty.

As head coach of the national 4x400m relay teams, Jacques guided the Belgian Tornados to multiple European titles and World and Olympic medals. He was named European Coach of the Year in 2011 and has played a key role in shaping the careers of many athletes.

“Sport has shaped my life”, Jacques said, “As an athlete, as a coach and above all as a human being. High-level sport requires not only talent, but also support, structure and belief in young people. That’s why I’m proud to be an ambassador for this non-profit organization, which is committed to supporting our ambitious sporting youth.

 

Our commitment is rooted in a strong philosophy: putting people at the heart of performance. We stand for values of excellence, perseverance, respect and solidarity. Together, we are building the future of our champions by giving them the means to thrive – both on the field and in life.”

Christian Taylor

Christian Taylor is one of the greatest triple jumpers in history: two-time Olympic Champion (London 2012, Rio 2016) and a four-time World Champion in the triple jump. With a personal best of 18.21m, he is the second-farthest jumper in history and has inspired an entire generation of athletes worldwide. Christian is also very passionate about mentoring young athletes and remains deeply involved in sports.

“Triple jump is an event like no other. The incredible forces an athlete must endure, jump after jump, are truly remarkable. When you step back and consider the sheer feat of covering nearly 16 or even 18 meters in just three contacts, it is mind-blowing. I applaud anyone who attempts the event and I understand the unfortunate cases when you don’t quite make it into the sandpit.

 

I have always had great admiration—even reverence—for those able to execute the triple jump with such grace and power at the same moment. It is an unforgiving discipline that takes years of dedication and maybe a bit of craziness. But it is all worth it when everything comes together and you nail that big one.

 

I support Beyond the Board because it brings together athletes, coaches and track and field enthusiasts who are passionate about sharing the beauty of this event with the world. Though still an up-and-coming effort, I am sure the athletes who represent the brand will embody the unique personalities that make the event special—and will inspire the next generation to try it out.

 

I look forward to seeing strong growth in the near future and I believe the people behind Beyond the Board are fully motivated to grow this group, the event and the sport that we all love”.

Svetlana Bolshakova

Svetlana has been one of Belgium’s leading triple jumpers for over a decade. Under the guidance of Michel Boels, she reached her highest international level — winning the bronze medal at the European Championships in Barcelona in 2010. Her career is a story of talent, perseverance and resilience: overcoming repeated injuries and long rehabilitation periods to return to world-class performance.

Today, Svetlana remains closely connected to the sport and brings invaluable experience to the Beyond the Board athletes. She understands both the physical and mental challenges of elite competition and the discipline required to sustain excellence over time.

We are honoured to have Svetlana join our team of ambassadors. Her knowledge, empathy and experience will be a source of inspiration for our young athletes as they continue their own journeys toward the European and world stage.

“Michel and I have gone through a long journey together — with many injuries and heavy rehabilitations that ultimately led to my bronze medal at the European Championships in Barcelona in 2010. I still care deeply about this sport, but I also know how demanding it can be on the body. I want to help the athletes understand that achieving success requires a perfect balance between hard work and high-quality recovery. That’s what makes athletics so fascinating — everything has to align for performance.”