World Champion shot putter Jessica Schilder to compete at the FBK Games in Hengelo

World champion shot putter Jessica Schilder will compete on Sunday, June 21, 2026, in the 45th edition of the FBK Games in Hengelo. The 27-year-old athlete aims to shine again in 2026 following her extremely successful 2025 season, throwing her four-kilogram shot, and is eager to return to Hengelo for the occasion.

“I’m really looking forward to competing on Dutch soil in the beautiful Fanny Blankers-Koen stadion. I can’t wait for the amazing atmosphere! On to Hengelo!”

Last year, Schilder won gold at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025, claimed victory at the Diamond League Final Zurich, and became European indoor champion in Apeldoorn. The Atletiekunie named her the best Dutch athlete of 2025, and at the NOC*NSF Sportgala she was crowned the best Dutch female athlete of the year. Her strong form this year is evident from her world-leading performance of 20.69 meters during the past indoor season.

“It’s fantastic that we have Jessica competing as a world champion,” says meeting director Ellen van Langen of Global Sports Communication. “Over the past years at the FBK Games, we’ve followed her career with impressive Dutch records and performances beyond 20 meters. And now she comes to Hengelo as a world champion. It’s also great that she has managed to bring her discipline into the spotlight of sports-loving Netherlands in recent years. Jessica is therefore one of the main crowd favorites.”

“As one of the leading figures of Dutch athletics and a true crowd-puller at the FBK Games, Jessica repeatedly shows how the Dutch audience can lift her to a higher level. I’m really looking forward to the magic that will bring once again, says meeting director Hans Kloosterman”. He also emphasizes the success the Netherlands is experiencing in athletics. Naturally, he wants as many of these successful Dutch athletes as possible to compete in Hengelo. “With Jessica’s participation, we’re already off to a great start.”

Main program of the FBK Games:

Men: 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 110m hurdles, pole vault, and discus throw

Women: 100m, 400m, 800m, 100m hurdles, long jump, high jump, and shot put

Paralympic:
Men: 200m
Women: 100m, long jump, and shot put

Ticket sales for the 8,200 seats have now started. The FBK Games is the only international top-level athletics meeting in the Netherlands and is part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold, a prestigious circuit of eleven competitions spread across five continents.