For the first time since he retired in 2013 former beach volleyball star Julius Brink had a moment of regret, he said Friday at the World Championships in the Netherlands. “Actually seeing that this World Championships have four cities involved, is quite disappointing for me, because I retired and I would have loved to play an event like that.”
The 32-year old German participated in four World Championships in his long career. He won gold in Stavanger (2009) and bronze in Berlin (2005) and Rome (2011). And furthermore he is a two-time Olympian, winning gold at the 2012 London Olympics.
He popped into The Hague on Friday and had nothing but praise for the event in the Netherlands. “I think this is the future for other sports as well, to get the whole nation involved. I arrived just two hours ago, but from what I saw from the pictures and videos from all these four cities, it’s been amazing, it’s been a benchmark so far and I am happy and excited. I just made it to The Hague, I wish I could have visited other venues as well. It’s been what I would love to see our sport in the future and I am very happy to get a whole nation and so many people to get involved. I think it is great.”
Another retired beach volleyball start couldn’t stay away either; Australia’s five-time Olympian Natalie Cook. She won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and has participated in seven World Championships.
Her favourite event still remains the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where she won gold with Kerri-Ann Pottharst, but the event in the Netherlands is one of the best she has seen. “We have seen a lot of good world championships in Brazil, but this one is very good, on the floating pontoon. This one goes very high on the list.”
“Holland should be very proud of the World Championships, here in The Hague, in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Apeldoorn”, the 40-year old Brisbane resident said. “It is beautiful, the stadium is amazing, the quality of beach volleyball is sensational. Not enough Dutch teams in the final four, but better luck next time. Good job!”