More sportsFormer judoka Dirk Van Tichelt (36), who announced his retirement from top sport at the end of October, will join the coaching staff of Judo Vlaanderen from 1 January 2021.
“With Dirk, we have a fantastic asset to our technical staff”, says Technical Director Topsport Koen Sleeckx in a press release. “With his knowledge as a top judoka and master in movement sciences, he will undoubtedly be able to show our promising youngsters the way to the top. He is also an excellent motivator and a lot of inspiration. We wish Dirk every success!”
“I am also enthusiastic to start as a coach”, says Van Tichelt. “The juniors themselves also turn out to be enthusiastic. They were happy when I was allowed to fill in as a trainer recently. It was even begged if I would not be the regular trainer of the juniors. I told them that I did not know all that yet. there was nothing official yet. That was then. In January 2021 it is a fact. With this one it is official then. ”
“The fact that Dirk, after his top sport career, resolutely chooses to remain active in judo and to pass on his knowledge to our Flemish judokas within the framework of our federation, makes me very happy”, says Bart Demuynck, chairman of Judo Vlaanderen. “Apart from Dirk’s judo qualities, I believe that he is the right person with the right human skills to fill this position.”
Van Tichelt experienced the peak of his career more than four years ago at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. There De Beer van Brecht won a bronze medal in the category up to 73 kg. In 2008 he captured a European title. He took bronze at the 2009 and 2013 World Cups. Due to a neck injury and the restrictions to train due to the corona crisis, he decided at the end of October to put an end to his top sports career.
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