El nadador Pieter Timmers, quien ganó la medalla de plata en 100 metros estilo libre de hombres en los Juegos Olímpicos de Río-2016, anunció que pondrá fin a su carrera al final de la temporada.
El belga de 32 años tenía planeado originalmente competir en los Juegos de Tokio, pero el aplazamiento del evento por un año debido a la pandemia del nuevo coronavirus estropeó sus pretensiones.
- Michael Phelps comprende que los atletas ya clasificados a los Juegos de Tokio deben cuidar su salud mental
“La postergación de los Juegos Olímpicos frustra mi plan perfecto, que de antemano había sido trazado hace años: darlo todo una vez más en los Juegos y posteriormente iniciar un nuevo capítulo”, afirmó Timmers en un mensaje difundido por la federación flamenca de natación.
“En otras palabras, no participaré en los pospuestos (Juegos) de Tokio en 2021", agregó. “Es una pena, pero me siento contento con ello porque quiero tomar mis propias decisiones y esta es una decisión bien analizada".
Timmers espera poder competir en el campeonato europeo en agosto en caso de que la justa no sea cancelada y pretende participar en la Liga Internacional de Natación en otoño.
“Mi despedida por lo tanto solo está planeada dentro de siete meses", dijo. “Y luego será momento de entrenar e iniciar un nuevo capítulo". (D)
Ver esta publicación en Instagram(Dutch version below) “The postponement of the Olympic Games towards my watertight plan, which had been mapped out years ago: to give everything once more at the Games, and then start a new chapter. My slogan has always been in the field of sports, ‘Do not be influenced by what you do not control, only focus on what you have in hand’. I want to keep that slogan now and don’t want to deviate from that plan. In other words: I will not be competing in the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. It is a shame, but I am okay with it because I want to make my own choices and this was a well-considered decision. Living this topsport life isn’t easy. I have been giving myself 100% for years. Say no to a lot of things to be as good as possible in the pool, in the battle for hundredths. I ask a lot of my environment and myself. I barely see my friends and family, and look forward to finally seeing them, my daughter and wife, more. Could there be another year? If I really want to, yes, and if it is possible in a practical area. The latter is certainly not easy, because my plans were already set out from August 2020, I already bought another house far away from the Olympic pool,... Reversing everything is difficult to achieve, but above all: I wouldn’t feel good about that. And I only do something if I am 100% behind it. I can only try the best if everything is 100% right. Otherwise, I will not start. With me, it is all or nothing. Years and years I gave it my all, and I will keep doing that cause this is not a ‘I quit swimming’-story’. I will be competing at the European Championships in August and I truly hope that event won’t be cancelled as well. In october and november I probably will be competing at the International Swimming League. As such, my farewell is therefore only planned within 7 months. But after that, it’s time for a new chapter. I already want to thank everybody for all the support the last 10 years, and I will be thanking you and them again at the end of this year when this story really ends.”