Laura Van Vooren

About

Laura Van Vooren is a Belgian environmental engineer and trail runner from Waterland-Oudeman in the Flemish Region who took up trail running in 2015 and, within eight years, had established herself as the most decorated Belgian woman in the sport’s history internationally. Three-time Belgian trail champion in the long and mid-distance categories (2022, 2023, 2024), she made her breakthrough at UTMB circuit scale in September 2023 by winning the Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB — a 165km race she entered having never run more than 90km in competition, finishing in 27:10 to become the first Belgian athlete ever to win a UTMB World Series event. In July 2025 she claimed her second UTMB circuit win at the HOKA Val d’Aran by UTMB (144km, 7,250m of ascent), executing a masterful pacing strategy that saw her move from 110th at the first checkpoint to outright women’s winner in 20:26:37. She is also a committed climate and environmental advocate. Van Vooren is the figurehead of Belgian ultra trail running.

Notable Wins

• — Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB 2023 winner (27:10
• — first Belgian to win a UTMB circuit event)
• — HOKA Val d’Aran by UTMB 2025 winner (20:26:37)
• — Belgian Trail Champion 2022
• — 2023
• — 2024

Race History