He spent the summer season at his workplace in The Hague. Barely received something out of the silver European Championship in Mönchengladbach. And made his return to the Oranje coaching group on Monday after a five-month absence. Duco Telgenkamp is a world once more. ‘Much less obsession, extra having fun with the second.’
In the midst of the interview, Telgenkamp briefly bursts into laughter. Final night time I had forgotten what garments we had been coaching in. With out actually serious about it, I had already put the outdated set within the bag. I already had the brand new outfit, although. However I needed to begin packing another time.
He tells it in Amsterdam’s clubhouse, the place he and half the crew are resting from the primary follow on this Monday. ‘Going into the gymnasium later,’ he sounds relaxed. ‘It felt like outdated occasions in a short time. You get used to it so rapidly. Then you definately simply hear: it’s good that you just’re again. After which it’s again to the outcomes of this weekend.
Telgenkamp with Floris Middendorp and Koen Bijen. Photograph: Willem Vernes
Duco the worldwide and businessman
So the Parisian gold medalist is again. Was additionally added again to the group app on Sunday, the place he exited earlier than the summer season. It’s Duco once more, the worldwide. An enormous distinction to the businessman we spoke to some three months earlier than. In his stately enterprise constructing in The Hague, he talked about his hockey-free summer season. Concerning the dot on the horizon that was lacking.
Concerning the difficult mixture between operating an organization – a streaming well being service – and prime area hockey. And about his efficiency obsession in area hockey, which introduced him a lot but in addition didn’t final lengthy. An interview that completely nonetheless confirmed his love of area hockey. However that feeling was overgrown with numerous query marks.
‘I had been serious about these subjects because the Olympics,’ Telgenkamp says. ‘So it was not a five-month sabbatical for me, however a course of that had been occurring for for much longer. I knew very nicely in what manner I didn’t wish to proceed as a world. However how I did need it, I nonetheless needed to determine that out. I’ve been engaged on that lately. And I believe I’ve discovered a great mode in that.’
Photograph: Willem Vernes
‘The massive aim for me was easy methods to maintain it extra sustainably as a world. Having fun with the sport with out doing that solely after I rating. Or solely after we gained one thing. Really, that already didn’t work, as a result of I used to be already busy with the following match. I’m now consciously making an attempt to let go of that. Once I was 13 I used to be already afraid I wouldn’t be capable of grow to be an Olympic champion if I couldn’t rating towards Victoria with the C1 of HDM. I wish to expertise area hockey in a different way now. To strategy it extra chillly, with out being much less good on the sphere.’
Once I was 13 I used to be already afraid that I couldn’t grow to be an Olympic champion later if I couldn’t rating with HDM’s C1 towards Victoria. Duco Telgenkamp
He talked about this loads along with his mother and father. His girlfriend. And likewise with nationwide coach Jeroen Delmee. ‘It was about what I truly appreciated about area hockey. I had to return to the fundamentals. To the Duco who performed area hockey to have enjoyable. Inside, but in addition exterior the sphere. Not being so compelled into serious about the following follow or Sunday’s opponent. I attempt to assume much less about how their final man runs and the way I can rating.’
‘That went on and on. I used to be by no means off. Continually that strain about what’s going to occur and what I’ve to do to be good. You are able to do that on the playoffs or at a match. However not one year a yr. I’m making that change and it’s getting in the fitting course.’
Photograph: Willem Vernes
‘I do know what I can do’
Whereas busy along with his area hockey expertise, Telgenkamp additionally felt the eagerness to be a part of the Dutch nationwide crew once more. ‘I used to be searching for contact once more. Requested questions once more. Noticed one thing come up concerning the World Cup that I discovered fascinating. I turned curious once more. And that was very good to note.
He watched the European Championship remaining with Miles Bukkens, who missed the match as a consequence of a knee harm. ‘Aside from that I didn’t see a lot, was additionally busy with work. I additionally didn’t really feel the necessity to fully change my schedule. I believed they performed severely nicely within the remaining. Noticed then once more how good it’s to be a part of that.’
And so he noticed the misplaced shoot-out sequence towards Germany, towards whom he scored the successful aim within the Olympic remaining a yr earlier. He gained’t say himself that his crew missed him there. ‘However I do know what I can do. That I can convey one thing to a second like that. If I had been in that remaining, I might have created hazard.’
With Miles Bukkens. Photograph: Willem Vernes
Flirting with a return
It introduced him one other small step nearer to a return. A month after the EC, he requested Delmee if they might meet. ‘That felt like flirting. I instructed him I might contemplate it an enormous honor if he needed to name on me once more. Thankfully, he responded very positively. As a result of I can need loads, ultimately I don’t make the choice.’
That process clearly lies with the nationwide coach, who already indicated that the fireplace was again with Telgenkamp. ‘As a result of we stored in contact, I knew precisely how he was doing,’ Delmee mentioned. ‘We gave him area, he wanted that. Throughout that point he took a great take a look at whether or not he nonetheless needed to be a prime athlete. It’s important to prefer it, it’s a way of life. It has been good that he took a distance in the summertime, due to that he can now stand there once more.’
Photograph: Willem Vernes
Whether or not there’s one other Telgenkamp standing, Delmee doesn’t dare say but. ‘I didn’t see him that good in the present day both. The long run will inform. The whole image in his life needs to be proper. If it doesn’t, we’ll discover it on the Orange.’
And within the group there was additionally room for a really goal-oriented striker. ‘Everyone knows that the efficiency on the European Championship may have been a bit greater,’ Delmee mentioned. ‘And we additionally know what Duco carried out on the tournaments he performed. He’s a finisher. If we had completed higher on the EC, we’d have grow to be European champions. I’m not saying different guys can’t do this; however it’s a trademark of Duco. That may be lethal within the circle.’
Within the beanbag along with his buddies
That lethal striker additionally has a greater stability between work and area hockey. ‘On coaching days, I work mornings and evenings. However after I’m right here with the group, I don’t wish to – as I used to – do all types of appointments in between. I additionally wish to take time to speak. To eat a sandwich in peace. And so lie within the beanbags with Miles and Floris Middendorp, till the following exercise comes. Much less obsession, extra having fun with the second.’
