On October 30, Dirk Van Tichelt put an end to his judoka career. Suffering from a hernia in the neck since mid-September, Dirk could no longer train or fight at the highest level. He had therefore drawn the only conclusion that was obvious to him, that of storing his judogi next to his trophy cabinet, in his living room, where his Olympic bronze medal was seated.
At the time, the 36-year-old Antwerp native was more concerned with his physical recovery than his professional future. Just recently, when asked what his plans were for the future, Dirk still answered honestly: “My contract with Sport Vlaanderen ends at the end of the year. So I will have to find a job. Being a graduate in Physical Education, I want to continue in sport, if possible in judo. Why not become a coach? But I don’t know at what level yet. I have already discussed with a few people and received several proposals, but I haven’t decided anything. “
This time, it’s decided ! Dirk Van Tichelt will become coach of the Dutch-speaking juniors as of January 1… Excellent news for Judo Vlaanderen who asked him to lead a training session. “Because of the health crisis, it was under very strict conditions: a group of ten and two by two. And I was on the edge of the tatami. But everything had gone perfectly and some judokas had even begged me. to become their coach on a regular basis. Faced with such enthusiasm, I really could not refuse Judo Vlaanderen’s offer. “
The first to rejoice is Koen Sleeckx, the Dutch-speaking DT: “With Dirk, we are hiring a fantastic reinforcement for our technical staff! With his knowledge of high level judoka, he will undoubtedly be able to show our young talents the way to the top. With his track record and his qualities athletic and human, Dirk commands respect. I wish him every success in his new role! “
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