{"id":112321,"date":"2020-04-09T16:21:16","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T14:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=112321"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:24:53","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:24:53","slug":"these-students-were-forced-to-put-their-olympic-dreams-on-hold-my-entire-year-was-centred-on-tokyo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2020\/04\/09\/these-students-were-forced-to-put-their-olympic-dreams-on-hold-my-entire-year-was-centred-on-tokyo\/","title":{"rendered":"These students were forced to put their Olympic dreams on hold: \u2018My entire year was centred on Tokyo\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Five students had already put a big red circle around the summer of 2020 years ago. Since last week, they know they will have to work an extra year towards their big goal: a medal at the Tokyo Olympics. They have mixed feelings: they understand this was necessary, but they\u2019re also disappointed and uncertain. What do you do if the one thing you\u2019ve been training for is suddenly put off for the foreseeable future?<\/p>\n

Malou Pheninckx \u2013 Field hockey<\/h2>
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Malou Pheninckx with Zhang Xiaoxue (China) during a Pro League hockey match against China.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKoen Suyk<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cIt threw me off a bit when I heard the Olympics would definitely be postponed another year. Of course you could see it coming, but I couldn\u2019t simply flip a switch when the news came in. It wasn\u2019t like: \u2018Well, let\u2019s do it next year then.\u2019 It took me a while to get used to the idea. I felt fit, everything was going well and I was really ready for it. And then suddenly everything you\u2019ve been working for all those years goes up in smoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a very weird period. You don\u2019t have any trainings or matches to go to, and the only contact you have with your teammates is via WhatsApp. From everything to nothing at once. From six months filled with matches with your club, matches with the Dutch team and the run-up to the Olympics to a completely empty calendar. And you have no idea what will be happening next \u2013 that makes it very difficult too.<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018It\u2019s a drag, but ultimately, all it is for me is a year\u2019s delay. Other people are seeing their business go down or have lost a loved one\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

\u201cOf course they made the right decision, and there are far more important things in life right now. And it wouldn\u2019t have felt right if we had gone despite everything that has happened. Among other things because you don\u2019t want a watered-down experience. I\u2019ve been looking forward to this for so long; you don\u2019t want to be playing your matches without spectators. And no one can prepare well if they have to stay quarantined for a few months. Apart from pushing a ball around in my living room, it\u2019s been a month since I last touched a hockey stick.<\/p>\n

\u201cUp till now, it has been boring more than anything. My entire year was centred on Tokyo, including my decision to postpone my medical degree programme. I now have to make new arrangements. I\u2019ve been doing some research again and I\u2019m also following an online course, but I can\u2019t just go back into rotation all of a sudden. They don\u2019t have a spot for me. But things will probably turn out OK. It\u2019s a drag, but ultimately, all it is for me is a year\u2019s delay. Other people are seeing their business go down or have lost a loved one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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Lees meer<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t