Laura Waem

Laura Waem (born 5 August 1997) is a Belgian former artistic gymnast. She represented Belgium at the 2016 Summer Olympics and is a two-time World Championships all-around finalist.

Gymnastics career 2012 Waem joined Belgium's junior national team in 2012. She then competed at the Junior European Championships, helping the Belgian team place 12th.

2013 Waem became age-eligible for senior international competitions in 2013. She made her senior international debut at the International Gymnix, finishing 12th in the all-around. She qualified for the uneven bars final at the Anadia World Challenge Cup, finishing seventh. She placed 11th in the all-around at the Dutch Invitational. She then competed at the World Championships in Antwerp and qualified for the all-around final alongside Gaelle Mys, marking the first time two Belgian gymnasts qualified for the World all-around final. In the final, Waem finished 21st. At the Belgian Championships, she finished second in the all-around to Lisa Verschueren. She then finished fourth in the all-around at a friendly meet against France and Romania. At the European Championships, she helped Belgium qualify for their second-ever European team final and finish seventh. She then finished fourth in the all-around at the Novara Cup, and Belgium placed third as a team.

Waem competed at the 2014 World Championships and helped the Belgian team finish 11th, which at the time was the best-ever World Championships team result for Belgium. Waem also qualified for her second consecutive World all-around final and finished 24th.

2015 Waem only competed on the uneven bars at a friendly meet against Sweden and Austria, finishing third behind teammates Cindy Vandenhole and Lisa Verschueren. She then competed in the all-around at the Novara Cup, finishing 13th, and Belgium placed third as a team. She competed at the World Championships alongside Vandenhole, Verschueren, Julie Croket, Rune Hermans, and Gaelle Mys. They finished 11th as a team and qualified for the 2016 Olympic Test Event. She did not qualify for a third all-around final due to a fall off the uneven bars.

2016 Waem began the season at the International Gymnix, helping Belgium win the team competition and finishing fourth on the uneven bars. She then helped Belgium win a friendly meet against Romania and Germany and placed second in the all-around behind teammate Axelle Klinckaert. At the Olympic Test Event, Waem helped Belgium finish third and qualify as a full team for the Olympic Games for the first time since 1948. She competed as a guest at the Dutch Championships and won a gold medal on the uneven bars.

Waem was selected to represent Belgium at the 2016 Summer Olympics alongside Klinckaert (later replaced by reserve Rune Hermans), Senna Deriks, Nina Derwael, and Gaelle Mys.

Post-gymnastics Waem tore her Achilles tendon in 2017 and subsequently announced her retirement to focus on her pharmaceutical science studies. In 2020, Waem published an open letter detailing her experience of abuse in gymnastics.

Competitive history