Ivo Steyaert

About

Ivo Steyaert is a Belgian backyard ultra specialist from Oosterzele who is one of the most decorated competitors in the history of the format and a two-time holder of the world team record. He began competing in 2020 at the World Team Backyard Ultra Championships in Belgium, covering 36 yards in his first outing, and accelerated rapidly — in October 2022 he and teammate Merijn Geerts set a new two-person team world record of 101 yards at the World Backyard Team Championships, covering more than 677km over 101 consecutive hours. In October 2024 he broke the record again alongside Geerts and Frank Gielen at the Team World Championships at Legends Backyard Belgium in Retie, the trio running 110 yards and covering 458.36 miles. At Big Dog's Backyard Ultra 2025 — the World Individual Championships in Bell Buckle, Tennessee — Steyaert ran a personal best of 113 yards, finishing as vice-world champion. Across 12 competitive starts he has accumulated over 755 total yards, averaging 63 yards per start, with a 17% win rate, making him one of the most experienced backyard ultra competitors on the international circuit.

Notable Wins

• — World Backyard Team Record 101 yards (2022
• — with Merijn Geerts)
• — World Backyard Team Record 110 yards (2024
• — with Geerts and Frank Gielen)
• — Big Dog's Backyard Ultra 2025 runner-up (113 yards)
• — L'Infernal Trail Des Vosges IT 130 3rd 2022

Race History