Jutta Verkest

Jutta Verkest was born on 11 October 2005, in Mechelen, and she began gymnastics in 2010.^[4] Her mother, Mireille, is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.^[2] Her idol is Gabby Douglas.^[1] She moved to Ghent to train with the Belgian national team.^[5]

At the 2016 Belgian Championships, Verkest finished seventh in the all-around and won the bronze medal on the floor exercise.^[6] She then made her international debut at the 2017 FIT Challenge and finished eleventh in the all-around in the Espoir division.^[7] She then competed at the 2017 Swiss Cup and helped the Belgian team win the silver medal behind Germany.^[8] At the 2018 Tournoi International, she finished fourth in the all-around with a total score of 50.267. She also won the silver medal in the uneven bars event final behind Swiss gymnast Lena Bickel.^[9] Then at the 2018 Top Gym Tournament, she won the gold medal on the uneven bars and placed eighth in the all-around.^[10]

Verkest competed at the 2019 City of Jesolo Trophy, and the Belgian junior team won the bronze medal behind Russia and the United States. Individually, she finished twenty-sixth in the all-around.^[11] She then competed at the L'International Gymnix where the Belgian team won the silver medal behind the United States.^[12] At the 2019 European Youth Summer Olympic Festival, Verkest competed with Charlotte Beydts and Margaux Dandois, and they finished sixth. Individually, Verkest finished fourteenth in the all-around final and sixth in the uneven bars final.^[13] At the 2020 L'International Gymnix, Verkest won a bronze medal on the uneven bars behind Konnor McClain and Skye Blakely.^[14]

Verkest made her senior international debut at the 2021 Heerenveen Friendly, and she finished seventh in the all-around.^[15] She was initially Belgium's reserve athlete for the 2021 European Championships, but when Nina Derwael withdrew due to a minor foot injury, Verkest was sent.^[16] After the qualification round, she was the third reserve for the all-around final, but she was added to the competition after Giulia Steingruber withdrew.^[17] Verkest was only notified one hour before the all-around final started.^[16] She ultimately finished tenth with a total score of 52.132.^[18] She then competed at the FIT Challenge and helped the Belgian team win the silver medal behind France. Individually, she placed sixth in the all-around and fourth on the uneven bars, and she won the bronze medal on the floor exercise behind Roxana Popa and Maria Ceplinschi.^[19]

Verkest was selected to represent Belgium at the 2020 Summer Olympics alongside Maellyse Brassart, Nina Derwael, and Lisa Vaelen.^[20] Had the 2020 Olympic Games not been postponed, she would have not been age-eligible for the competition due to her 2005 birth date.^[21] Before the Olympics, she stated, "The postponement of the Games was positive for me. I have come to gain experience with an eye to Paris in 2024."^[22] She competed on all four events in the team final where the team finished eighth.^[23] Individually, she qualified for the all-around final where she finished twenty-third with a total score of 51.232.^[24]

Verkest competed at the 2022 European Championships in Munich, where she contributed to Belgium's fifth-place finish in the team final.^[25]

Verkest announced her retirement from the sport on 15 April 2024.^[26]