In this episode of Studio Hockey, co-hosts Ernst Baart and Jaspreet Singh welcome a remarkable guest: Elliot Van Strydonck, the 37-year-old Belgian defender whose career traces the meteoric rise of Belgian hockey. Van Strydonck, a silver medalist at the Rio Olympics, multiple Euro Hockey League champion, and today a defender for Racing in Brussels, has played a pivotal role at both club and international levels. His journey mirrors that of modern Belgian field hockey itself: from a nation struggling to compete on the world stage to one of the sport’s powerhouses. In this conversation, Elliot shares his motivations, personal challenges, and reflections, offering listeners a rare window into both the sporting and human aspects of an elite athlete’s life.
Why Move Clubs at 37?
Ernst opens by asking why, entering what may be the final chapters of his playing career, Elliot chose to move clubs—specifically, from Leopold to Racing. Elliot reflects on his path, noting that while he had long envisioned playing his entire career at Leopold, changing circumstances and the need for renewed motivation inspired a fresh start. Despite past successes and coming heartbreakingly close to a Belgian title with Leopold, he found himself “a bit worried about the game” and craved new energy. As he says, “I needed to find a new, a new energy, a new vibe.” Racing’s struggling status and a promising project led by a friend convinced him to accept the challenge of being a leader and mentor to younger players.
Family, Early Days, and Olympic Dreams
Jaspreet wishes to learn more about Elliot’s hockey origins and his famous hockey family. Elliot credits the Van Strydonck family, deeply rooted in Belgian hockey, as a natural springboard for his sporting journey. From an early age, he was determined: “I said to my dad, yeah, I want to make it to the Olympic Games.” The ambition was doubly audacious, given Belgium’s lowly status in world hockey at the time, but through relentless commitment, summers spent training, and participating in pivotal youth programs, he climbed each level—eventually helping secure Belgium’s first European U16 championship. The first step towards his Olympic dream.
Taking the Leap to the Dutch League
Switching gears, Ernst explores Elliot’s uncommon decision to leave Brussels for the Dutch Hoofdklasse, now over a decade ago. Elliot emphasizes how stepping outside his comfort zone by joining Oranje Zwart (OZ) in Eindhoven ultimately transformed both his career and his personal growth.
“I knew that if I wanted to make a step forward in my career, I needed to change something, get out of my comfort zone.”
Choosing OZ over other options, he valued the personal connection with coach Michel van den Heuvel overgoing with friends to another club. And the gamble quickly paid off—culminating in
“two years we won almost all the titles we could win. We did four finals. I played with the best club team I will ever play with.”
The experience sharpened him ahead of Rio and proved integral to his Olympic silver.
Life After Rio: Depression and creating “Breakable”
Ernst steers the conversation to life after international hockey, particularly the difficulties faced transitioning from elite sport to “regular life.” Elliot candidly discusses the challenges:
“People are thinking that being a high-level athlete is always nice… but at the end it’s not so easy. It’s a lot of sacrifices.” He describes losing the clear sense of purpose that came from working relentlessly toward Olympic glory, and the struggle to find employment. This difficult phase inspired the birth of “Breakable,” his own French-language podcast focusing on mental health and personal vulnerability:
“I like to talk about mental health and physical health… because I like to talk about vulnerability.”
The Pursuit of “True Self”
Jaspreet probes deeper, mentioning a poignant quote from Elliot’s LinkedIn about the “hollow silence that followed in the shadow of triumph.” Is Elliot’s search for his “true self” still ongoing? Elliot is honest:
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