Timo Boll is retiring from the international stage as one of the greatest German athletes in history. He will be missed. And not just in table tennis.
When all questions had been answered, Timo Boll experienced another special Olympic moment. After the last international match of his career, the table tennis star entered a part of the hall that was separated by makeshift metal walls and suddenly found himself face to face with his close friend Dirk Nowitzki. The basketball legend applauded, bowed to Boll – and hugged him tightly.
There could hardly have been a better script for the friendship between two of the greatest German athletes in history. After all, it all began in 2008 in Beijing – also at the Olympics. Now the circle has come full circle in Paris. “He’s been saying for years, finally stop, that we can do a bit more together. I’ve always resisted it, but now the time has come,” said Boll with his typical grin.
Tears through chants
In the hall, his emotions had “brutally overwhelmed” him after the 0:3 defeat against Sweden. Tears flowed as the more than 6,000 fans just wouldn’t stop chanting “Timo, Timo”. The loser of the evening was the winner of hearts. He was an “outstanding player, the greatest player we’ve ever had,” said the not exactly unsuccessful national coach Jörg Roßkopf.
Others may be more highly decorated than Boll. His big dream of an individual Olympic medal never came true. But the 43-year-old kept his deep empastr.d50f84252c99df9979488d5d998b9612.css” fetchpriority=”high”>
Source: Stern
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