Hockey - Team Belgium

Nickname
Red Lions

General
Belgium reached their first Olympic final in 14 attempts at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. They topped their group with four wins and one loss before eliminating India in the last eight and the Netherlands in the semifinals. They were eventually beaten to gold by Argentina, who ran out 4-2 victors in the final.

Belgium's arrival on the Olympic stage was even more impressive considering they had failed to progress to the medal round at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, and did not compete at the Games between 1980 and 2004. Belgium's only other Olympic medal is a bronze they won on their debut in 1920.

The Red Lions arrive at Tokyo 2020 as world champions, having claimed their first World Cup crown in 2018 via a penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands in the final. In four appearances at the Champions Trophy between 2012 and 2012 the team's best ranking was fifth, but they did finish as runner-up of the inaugural Pro League in 2019, losing the final to Australia.

Belgium qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games by winning the 2019 EuroHockey Championships in Antwerp. It was the first time the Belgians had secured the continental title.