Last Sunday, Ann Wauters and Bart Cannaerts were able to tell about their favorite sports moments in Sporza Retro on Radio 1. We learned that Wauters has a soft spot for Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet.
In 2016, Greg Van Avermaet traveled to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro as a shadow favorite. It was said that the tough climb on the course was no big deal for Greg Van Avermaet. Ann Wauters followed the course from LA, where she played basketball at the time.
“The Olympics are always different when you are in another country,” said Wauters. “I actually like it better to be in Belgium, then you get that Belgian feeling more. Yet the gold from Van Avermaet gave me an incredible feeling. The Games had just started, and boom, immediately a gold medal.”
“I also have so much sympathy for Greg. He already had a great career at the time, but it often had just not been. Often second or third places in big races. I don’t know him personally, but I think he is there made a click in Rio. ”
“He had already raced in yellow that same year in the Tour, but the year after he won Paris-Roubaix (and Gent-Wevelgem, E3 Harelbeke and the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad). I also heard him say in a report an important moment for him was Rio. “
I read somewhere that he is one of the riders who gave up the least. That characterizes him. He also showed that mindset at the Games.
Greg Van Avermaet and Ann Wauters, there are some parallels. Both top athletes, both cheerful and sensible. Ann Wauters did not hide her admiration for people Greg Van Avermaet.
“I would like to sit with him and have a good chat. We have a nice connection. I live in a village close to Kortrijk, Bellegem. Greg’s personal masseur also lives in Bellegem. I recently had a massage there. Although I didn’t know before I went. “
“We talked about Greg for an hour in the end. I got to know all kinds of things, but especially what a hard worker he is. There is simply no secret to success in the sport. Of course you have to have talent, but if you are not hard works, no results follow. “
“Greg is the perfect example of that. I read somewhere that he is one of the riders who have given up the least. That typifies him. He also showed that mindset at the Games. That is why I think it is so nice that he has a nice track record. “
“Running a marathon? Maybe I should be kind to my body”
Ann Wauters also chose the marathon under 2 hours of Eliud Kipchoge. The logical question was whether she wants to run a marathon herself?
“It’s on my bucket list, but I don’t know if that’s possible with two worn knees that barely contain cartilage. On the other hand, I’ve already asked so much of my body. Maybe I should be kinder to my body every now and then and don’t want to push. “
“I may not want to do it anyway. I still think you want to feel good about it. If it hurts alone, it’s hard.”
Re-listen Sporza Retro with Ann Wauters and Bart Cannaerts:
