The Yellow Tigers' captain charts a different course. Celine van Gestel decided to focus on her life besides volleyball. The 26-year-old cornerback player made this decision after the end of her season with the German team Aachen. “Being outside and then having a busy summer gets more difficult for me every year,” she explains of her choice on the Tweemansblok podcast.
“Aachen bids farewell to the season with nostalgia.”
A title found on the official volleyball website of the Bundesliga and also applies to Celine van Gestel. After her team – which finished second to last in the regular season – was eliminated from the playoffs, she came to her conclusions.
The end of the pinnacle of volleyball, forever.
“It's time for something new in my life,” Van Gestel explains her reasons to podcasters Mark Willems and Dominique Baines. “It will be quite an adjustment, but it is necessary.”
“Thinking about what I should do next in my career has been stuck in my mind for a few years. I started playing close to home this year and now I'm graduating as well. So this is the perfect time to stop and get a taste of working life.”
I really enjoyed my last few games, although I'll miss them terribly.
Celine van Gestel
“I really enjoyed my last matches,” Van Gestel continues. “All my friends and all my family came to watch. I'm going to miss him so much though.”
This brings an abrupt end to the 26-year-old's lone cornerback's career.
She took her first steps in Turnhout, before Asterix penetrated Keldrecht. In Stuttgart, I got my first taste of traveling abroad.
She then accompanied her best friend, Britt Herbuts, to Florence. They both moved last summer Yellow tigers close the door. Herbots left for the Scandicci first team, and Van Gestel returned to Germany.
Also its final stop.
(Read more below image)
Céline van Gestel formed a Belgian tandem with Brett Herbots in Florence.
Leader of the new generation
Suddenly, the women's national team was missing its captain.
Celine van Gestel's role with the Yellow Tigers in recent years cannot be underestimated. She was the leader and spokesperson on the field as captain.
“The organizer in all this fuss,” Herbots described her at the European Championships last summer.
But her role off the field should not be underestimated. “It keeps everyone mentally together,” Nationals coach Chris VanSnick nodded at the time. “I call it the cog of the team.”
The Belgian women's volleyball champion will no longer do it in the gym.
I feel a lot of pain in my heart because I will not play for the national team this summer.
Celine van Gestel
She will never forget all the wonderful moments she had with Tiger: “I feel a lot of pain in my heart because I will not play for the national team this summer.”
“Playing for the Yellow Tigers has always been my favorite part of the year. But coming home after a long season and then having to start a busy summer gets harder and harder for me every year.”
“When I was a little girl, I never dared to dream of playing abroad or for the Tigers. I had a lot of crazy, unforgettable moments. So I made peace with it.”
The younger generation (even) of girls will never forget what Celine van Gestel means in the world of volleyball.
“Subtly charming internet specialist. Avid writer. Friendly alcohol guru. Music ninja. Devoted social media fanatic.”
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