After the Olympics only in the club
Timo Boll ends his great career – partly
27.05.2024, 21:16
In 2000, Timo Boll competed in the Olympic Games for the first time – the table tennis icon will take to the Olympic stage for the last time in Paris in 2024. The 43-year-old will retire from the national team in the summer, but wants to play one final season for his club afterwards. Then his career will end.
One more time on the big stage in Paris, then it’s over for Timo Boll. At least internationally. “I’ve often spoken in the past about being a little afraid of this decision. But it was clear that this day would come inevitably,” said the 43-year-old and announced that after the Olympic Games he would only play table tennis for his club for one more year. Then his career would be over for good.
Boll, record European champion and the face of German table tennis, is gradually retiring. His seventh Olympic appearance will be his last, and for a long time it was unclear whether Boll would be there. But national coach Jörg Roßkopf nominated the experienced player for the team competition, leaving Patrick Franziska with only the role of substitute. Not everyone was happy about that.
The decision allows Boll to step into the spotlight once again, and he is taking advantage of this opportunity because it is now “really time to say goodbye to the world stage of active sport.” Recently, shoulder problems had set him back for a long time, but Boll fought his way back. He is very grateful for his career, said the Erbach native, who won two World Championship bronze medals and eight European Championship gold medals, “but now it’s enough.” His sport has “left many traces” on him.
Fifth Olympic medal as a big goal
Boll will play for Borussia Düsseldorf for one more season, after which he will be an advisor to the club, among other tasks. “I will definitely stay true to the sport that has given me so much. There are plenty of ideas. My life will certainly remain interesting and exciting,” explained Boll, who will be playing for WTT Champions in China from Thursday. Boll reached the final of the German championship again last weekend with his club, for which he has played since moving from TTV Gönnern in 2006. Franziska will play against 1. FC Saarbrücken, and only once the final is over will he turn his attention to Paris.
Boll won two silver and two bronze medals with the team at the Olympics, but that is not all. The star player still has a big sporting goal: “If we win a medal with the team at the Olympic Games, that would really be the perfect ending.”
Boll has known for some time that it would soon be time to retire. “The day had to come at some point,” the former world number one said on Instagram and bowed. “I thank you all for your support on my really long journey! Now I’m looking forward to my final adventures.”