“I have a bit of the idea that the body is gone,” said the Olympic champion on the London 2012 horizontal bar.
Zonderland has had health problems for years that manifest themselves in frequent colds and filling cavities. These prevent him from being able to properly prepare for his last Olympic appearance, in more than two weeks.
Ups and downs
“It goes with ups and downs, but there is certainly no good preparation now. I don’t think about medals at all now. I have to rise above myself to get to the final,” said Zonderland, who was on the plane on Sunday. heads for Japan.
“Not going is on my mind, but I just hope it gets better in the coming weeks.”
Delay Play fatal Spelen
For Zonderland, the postponement of the Games by a year due to the corona crisis threatens to be fatal. “Such a shame”, said national coach Bram van Bokhoven. “Epke was so fit towards the World Cups at the beginning of last year.”
But the years are counting, Zonderland acknowledged, who has been struggling with the same complaints for a long time and never found a solution. “I don’t know exactly either. I’m not fit, I’m often sick. It’s also true that the older I get, the harder it gets. It’s like running into a wall. The body doesn’t want to anymore. You used to be able to train what you Now I had a good period until February, but after that I was no longer able to build up to the Games.”
Final EC missed
That was already apparent at the European Championship in April, his only match in a little over a year and a half. Zonderland did not reach the final in Basel long after, which he had expected in advance due to a faulty preparation. A similar scenario threatens in Tokyo. “The fact that I continue now is also because it is the Games. I would like to experience them again.”
He will forever remain the man of the triple combination of flight elements at the London Games, but an inglorious end may be the reality. “That is very double. A career always comes to an end. It is nice to know that this is the limit, that the chance is small that I will win a title again. It is a shame, but also reassuring .”
