After a unique experience at the Olympics, it is time for me to say goodbye to my playing days.
There is something so special about the Olympics. The whole world is united around sports, it is intense, it is with lots of emotions and there are a lot of first times.
First time Belgium qualifies for women’s basketball, first time we play the 1/4 finals. Just because it hasn’t been done, doesn’t mean it can’t be. I felt inspired walking around the best athletes of the world, who don’t settle for the limits they have been told exist. We push beyond. Records and limits are made to be broken.
There were a lot of first of’s in my career, without knowing it . First draft pick of WNBA, first Belgian to win a Euroleague title and being the mvp,… But far more important than my personal accolades, it is seeing others following in my footsteps. How beautiful is it to see Emma Meesseman evolve as one of the best players in the world, or Julie Allemand and Kim Mestdagh getting their experience in Wnba.
I don’t even know where I have to start thanking people who allowed me to go after my dreams.
I have been working 3 long hard years to get to the Olympics. Many challenges, with cartilage dammage in both knees and getting older every day. The endless hours spent on the court in silence with Philip and PY, riding to Antwerp to get the best rehab exercises. Going on the track in cold, rainy weather. I even accommodated a whole room with weights and a special curved treadmill in my basement.
I surrounded myself with people who pushed me, who believed in me. And the criticasters give me some extra fuel to keep the fire very much alive.
When I am sincere with you, I was completely overwhelmed the first day we got to the Olympic village and the Openings ceremony felt like a fairy-tail. I had to pinch myself a couple times, yes it is really happening.
After a couple days even the Olympic village started to feel normal, expect the cart wood beds! Then you start to realize the road you had to take to get there. And yeah it was a long one, a tough one, not always an honest one. Again I felt overwhelmed by knowing how many people helped me in this process. From my wife who supported me through everything to the endless love from my kids, who started also to share my dream. Also my parents who drove me to all basketball games when I was young, my sister to always give me a different perspective. Coaches, physios, physical coaches, trainers, doctors all helped me shape who I became as a player but also as a person.
My close circle of real friends, who really know me and gave me the right distraction when I needed it.
I mean it true happiness is not found at the Olympics, but it’s waking up every morning, even if you don’t feel like it, go anyways and put the work in. That’s where you find pure happiness.
Life is about the journey, not the destination. And that journey will change you as a person. In order to achieve that dream, sacrifices were made and my family supported me every step of the way. I can’t be more happy and grateful.
I can’t thank my teammates enough. The beauty of basketball is that you can’t achieve anything without your team. I played for so many different teams, with women from all over the world. Thank you for broaden my vision on the world. Great memories of celebrating our successes but also comforting each other in the hard times, will stay forever in my mind.
Lastly I want to thank you! You are reading this, you have in some kind of way helped me, pushed me, encouraged me to live my dream. You are the real ambassadors of our beautiful sport. Without you we wouldn’t have those great, warm memories of full gyms, arenas with crazy atmosphere which gave me goosebumps and adrenaline to perform. From the bottom of my heart thank you.
Extremely grateful to be able to leave on my own terms. This orange ball will always have a special place in my heart.
Time for another chapter with new dreams, aspirations and I am pretty sure also with a lot of challenges!
