Olympic champion Simon Gougnard will not play for the national hockey team this summer. He misses the Pro League matches in London (May-June) and Antwerp (June-July) and the European Championship in Germany (August). “I don’t feel I can perform at my best this summer,” explains the 32-year-old midfielder.
Gougnard experienced all the successes of the Red Lions over the past decade: 5th at the London 2012 Olympics, 2nd at Rio 2016 and Olympic champion in Tokyo in 2021, as a standout world champion in 2018 and European champion in 2019.
In January he was also there in the lost World Cup final in India, but now it is enough. “After a tough last few years with the Tokyo Olympics and the World Cup in India, I don’t feel I can give everything it takes to perform at my best this summer.”
Together with his brothers, he also entered a catering project. “At the moment I have other priorities, so I think it’s best to take a break and reevaluate my future.”
“After the summer I will see if the energy comes back to go full for Paris again.”
After the summer I will see if the energy returns to go full for Paris 2024 again.
Performance director Adam Commens understands Gougnard: “Simon has thought carefully about this decision and discussed it thoroughly with (national coach) Michel van den Heuvel.”
“We fully understand where this comes from. He is a world class player and has given so much to Belgian hockey. I am sure the door will be open if he has the energy to give 100 per cent again after the summer.”
Gougnard will not be there with Belgium for the first time since the 2015 European Championship. Then national coach Jeroen Delmee left him at home.
He remains active in the club. He makes the switch from Dragons and will play for Racing from Uccle for a 3rd time. He will find internationals such as Wegnez and Cosyns with the 2022 champion.
2023-05-24 15:39:46
#Red #Lion #Simon #Gougnard #takes #international #break #summer #priorities #hockey
