Belgian long distance swimmer Tom Vangeneugden has decided to stop as a professional swimmer, saying here on his blog that ‘There comes a time when you no longer meet your expectations, the goals become unrealistic.’ He is happy with having completed the goals he set as a young swimmer, to compete in the Olympics and swim under 15 minutes in the 1500 freestyle, but now unfortunately it seems he doesn’t meet his own expectations, pointing to the London 2012 Olympics.
His blog post here directly off Google Translate …
An end. A start.
There comes a time when you no longer meet your expectations, the goals become unrealistic. The last five months have made me realize that I have to admit that now. In an Olympic year, Olympic is the form or at least that direction, and that is unfortunately not the case.
This is a decision I’ve thought about it. The goals I had set me as a young swimmer, the Olympics, and under 15 minutes in the 1500m swim, I have met. I still have five Belgian records in hand, am still the only Belgian ever among those fifteen minutes to twelve European and World Championships participation, it is certainly not a huge drama.
Even two years on open water swimming (10km) I am very pleased. That the OS selection last year, failed by a hair and forced me had to return to the pool will certainly play a role this season, why not go the way it should go.
Now it’s time for new and different challenges!
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