Jos Lansink was a guest on the radio program "Langs de Lijn en Omstreken" on Radio 1 last Tuesday. The Dutchman with Belgian nationality looked back on the Olympic Games in Barcelona 1992, where he won gold with team NL. He also looked ahead to the future as the new national coach of the Dutch jumping team.
Jos Lansink on his gold medal in Barcelona:
"I still get goosebumps when I think back," he starts. "I remember that I was allowed to make one mistake but of course that happens quickly when it's people and animals. It's the Olympics so you don't want to mess up, especially for your team, at that crucial moment. If you can then come home with such a fantastic team with a gold medal, that gives an incredible feeling. It was definitely one of the highlights of my career."
How do you like the first weeks as national coach of Team NL?
"In the beginning, it's mostly getting used to. I've already spoken to a lot of riders in private to make a plan together with them. This year we have to work straight away to prove ourselves for the Games in Paris 2024. At the end of August there is the World Championships where our riders can and will have to show themselves. We have so many good riders, but the real top horses are missing a bit. So good planning is of enormous importance, so that the horses still have enough petrol in the tank to be there at important moments."
When you were asked as national coach for Team NL, you first said 'no' twice. Why is that?
"Yes I did. I have my own stable, my own riders and my own horses that I actually have enough work with. But when an offer comes from the Netherlands, that is still special and so I said 'yes' the third time. I also received offers from other countries but finally I chose NL. The fact that the riders were all behind it and behind me was one of the deciding factors. For that reason I'm really looking forward to it."
You are replacing Rob Ehrens, who had to stop as national coach after 16 years. Does that give you a double feeling?
"No, it certainly does not give me a double feeling. Rob Ehrens did this for 16 years and everything has an expiration date. This is certainly the case when you work with humans and animals and when your success depends on performance. The way Ehrens was thanked does not deserve any beauty prize as far as I am concerned. Certainly not if you have worked together for so long. Ehrens has already wished me success."
What do you think is your quality as a national coach?
"I think I can say of myself that I can coach combinations well. That is shown by the results that my riders put down."
Source: Radio 1
Jos Lansink on his gold medal in Barcelona:
"I still get goosebumps when I think back," he starts. "I remember that I was allowed to make one mistake but of course that happens quickly when it's people and animals. It's the Olympics so you don't want to mess up, especially for your team, at that crucial moment. If you can then come home with such a fantastic team with a gold medal, that gives an incredible feeling. It was definitely one of the highlights of my career."
How do you like the first weeks as national coach of Team NL?
"In the beginning, it's mostly getting used to. I've already spoken to a lot of riders in private to make a plan together with them. This year we have to work straight away to prove ourselves for the Games in Paris 2024. At the end of August there is the World Championships where our riders can and will have to show themselves. We have so many good riders, but the real top horses are missing a bit. So good planning is of enormous importance, so that the horses still have enough petrol in the tank to be there at important moments."
When you were asked as national coach for Team NL, you first said 'no' twice. Why is that?
"Yes I did. I have my own stable, my own riders and my own horses that I actually have enough work with. But when an offer comes from the Netherlands, that is still special and so I said 'yes' the third time. I also received offers from other countries but finally I chose NL. The fact that the riders were all behind it and behind me was one of the deciding factors. For that reason I'm really looking forward to it."
You are replacing Rob Ehrens, who had to stop as national coach after 16 years. Does that give you a double feeling?
"No, it certainly does not give me a double feeling. Rob Ehrens did this for 16 years and everything has an expiration date. This is certainly the case when you work with humans and animals and when your success depends on performance. The way Ehrens was thanked does not deserve any beauty prize as far as I am concerned. Certainly not if you have worked together for so long. Ehrens has already wished me success."
What do you think is your quality as a national coach?
"I think I can say of myself that I can coach combinations well. That is shown by the results that my riders put down."
Source: Radio 1