The year 2021 is almost over. Time to look back. We’ve selected ten interviews from the past year especially for you that are definitely worth reading again during the Christmas season.
Interview with Kiki Bertens
Kiki Bertens stopped playing tennis this year. She didn’t have time to recover from ten years of top tennis. Even before she had put away her tennis rackets, the next chapter presented itself. She is pregnant. “I didn’t shed a tear that I quit.”
Read the entire interview with Kiki Bertens here.
Interview with Marciano Vink
For a long time threatened Marciano Vink (50) to become a typical ‘forgotten footballer’, but the former international is back in the spotlight at sports channel ESPN. This was preceded by a rather atypical phase of life. “I was shocked by the hatred and envy after I won the jackpot.”
Read the entire interview with Marciano Vink here.
Interview with Jamal Ben Saddik
A month and a half in custody for alleged involvement in the infamous Sky case, a dangerous back injury, cancer that is making a comeback and depression. kick boxer Jamal Ben Saddik (30), Rico Verhoeven’s biggest challenger, wanted to fight off the absurd calendar year 2021. First he told his story.
Read the full interview with Jamal Ben Saddik here.
Interview with Bas Nijhuis
He is the most colorful referee in the Netherlands. And the most discussed: Bas Nijhuis. We went to visit his home, where his donkeys and goose were never far away. ,,I understand that people sometimes think: oh, there you have it again. I bring that upon myself,” said Nijhuis, who was no longer designated any UEFA matches after a performance in The Orange Summer. “I’m not going to investigate. But it is sad that there are apparently colleagues who click.”
Read the entire interview with Bas Nijhuis here.
Interview with Chris Witty
For years wore Chris Witty a terrible secret. Despite her hidden fears, the American speed skater who lives in the Netherlands became an Olympic champion. “I couldn’t express what was really going on inside me.”
Read the full interview with Chris Witty here.
Interview with Jorien ter Mors
Jorien ter Mors is rather honest than a pleaser. The skater lives ‘to be happy herself’. But that is not the Olympic champion right now. With the Winter Games approaching, time is running out. “I also think that if I stop skating – and that could be after this Olympic season or later – there will be no one with whom I am still friends.”
Read the entire interview with Jorien ter Mors here.
Interview with Falko Zandstra
More than twenty years ago said Falko Zandstra skating goodbye. The Muscular Nail from then on about aging, his depression and newfound happiness. “I’m glad I get out of bed every day healthy.”
Read the entire interview with Falko Zandstra here.
Interview with Rob de Wit
Rob de Wit spoke extensively about his brain haemorrhage, which he had in 1986 at his holiday address in Spain. His Ajax teammates, including Marco van Basten and John van ‘t Schip, tried to cheer him up a bit with a ticket. “We didn’t even know you had brains,” they wrote. Football humor, a tad on the harsh side. In 1993 and 2005 he suffered two more brain haemorrhages.
Read the entire interview with Rob de Wit here.
Interview with Michaëlla Krajicek
Michaella Krajicek was once the great talent, until her tennis career went downhill. We spoke to her when she was pregnant and many hard life lessons richer. And although it resulted in incomprehension: her tennis dream remained alive.
Read the entire interview with Michaëlla Krajicek here.
Interview with Jan Mulder
Jan Mulder still drives weekly from Groningen to Belgium for a Mulderian football analysis. In corona time it is a rare highlight, but the former football player is the last to complain. ,,I think I should accept the total ignoring of Jan Mulder as a man. I don’t feel old. But I do understand that those talk shows want something fresher sometimes, a bit younger.”
Read the entire interview with Jan Mulder here.
In addition, of course, you can also read the interviews and stories from our year-end series.
Interview with Louis van Gaal
Louis van Gaal returned from retirement in 2021 and appears to have softened. “Let me put it this way: it’s the wisdom that comes with a 70-year-old.”
Read the full interview with Louis van Gaal here.
Interview with Anna van der Breggen
Anna van der Breggen stopped cycling and winning in 2021. A conversation about success, fame, doing what makes you happy and her best years on the bike, when she didn’t win yet. ,,With my first shift I earned 200 euros per month. Expenses. I was happy with that.”
Read the entire interview with Anna van der Breggen here.
Interview with Sifan Hassan
Sifan Hassan became Olympic champion twice and 47 years older in eight successful and stressful days in Tokyo. At least, that’s what she seems to see herself. We looked back with the Queen of the Games on the basis of six photos.
Read the entire interview with Sifan Hassan here.
Interview with Koen de Kort
Koen de Kort lost three fingers in an off-road buggy accident last summer. His retirement from cycling was therefore abrupt. At the end of an eventful year, he looks back.
Read the entire interview with Koen de Kort here.
Interview with Niek Kimmann
Becoming Olympic champion with a broken knee: BMX rider Niek Kimmann did it. About fun, destiny, running into a wall and whether your life will be changed by gold plaques.
Read the entire interview with Niek Kimmann here.
Reconstruction about European Championship football
The Orange squad finally took part in a major tournament in 2021, for the first time in no less than seven years. But the European Championship was a failure. The decline under Frank de Boer offered wise lessons, which the Dutch team under Louis van Gaal is now taking advantage of. A reconstruction. ,,When his wife was called out in the stands, Frank de Boer knew enough.”
Read the reconstruction of this year’s European Football Championship here.
This was the best sports year ever
In a year in which the need for entertainment and optimism was once again great, Dutch sport delivered to order. From a winter full of skating and short track medals, it went effortlessly via beautiful cycling classics to the most successful Olympic Games ever for this country. Max Verstappen caused a continuous Formula 1 fever, culminating in that great Sunday, December 12.
Read the whole story about the unprecedented success of the Netherlands here.
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