Bye, Timo - (Part 3 with Helmut Hampl): “A role model that is rarely found in sport”

Germany's top star Timo Boll is completing his announced farewell tour of the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) with Borussia Düsseldorf. Here, at regular intervals, important companions of the most successful player in Bundesliga history share their thoughts and memories of Timo Boll and his incomparable career. In the third part of our series “Bye, Timo”, Boll's long-time coach, supporter and confidant Helmut Hampl has his say.

“Timo and I met for the first time when he was less than nine years old. His talent was noticed early on, so one day Timo came to me for a day or two of training with the Hessian association. At first, as with everyone else, I paid particular attention to his ability to learn, which is always the decisive factor for me. Even if you, including Timo, have to work on it more and more over the years, you can recognize early on what potential is there. It was the same back then, and when I think back on it today, I would say that what you have to explain or show others 100 times, Timo usually realizes after just 20 attempts.

After the taster course, everything took its course. It started with training twice a week, and he improved more and more quickly. At the same time, a basis of trust developed between us, which was of great importance for our training work and Timo's sporting development. It was also an important basis for us at TTV Gönnern to tailor the framework conditions to Timo's needs in a way that is unique in German competitive sport and to set up a professional training group at his home town.

Milestones in Timo's career

Timo's first World Cup victory also came later in this period: when he won this title in 2002 against the best players from China at the time, it was a milestone for his career and it was clear to me that he could become number one, which he did for the first time shortly afterwards.

When Gönnern no longer wanted to continue table tennis in 2007 at the level that the club had naturally reached thanks to Timo, Timo's departure was inevitable and his move to Borussia Düsseldorf was only logical. Contrary to what many might think, it wasn't too difficult for me to end our sporting journey together after almost 20 years, because for me as a coach, the most important thing is always to put the player first. It's the be-all and end-all, the environment also has to be right for development to continue on a permanent basis. Timo's many other successes since then are also proof of this.

Timo has gotten a lot out of his career

Timo and I have remained in good and close contact over the years. I'm very pleased about that, but of course I'm also pleased that he, as the most successful German table tennis player of all time, has made the most of himself and his career. Yes, he is perhaps missing an individual medal at the Olympic Games as the crowning glory, so to speak, although he has come very close a few times. Nevertheless, Timo really has achieved everything that a table tennis player can achieve. His high basic level is also reflected in the fact that he is still playing very well in his last TTBL season.

Nevertheless, his decision to end his career for good next early summer at the age of 44 is absolutely understandable. I could also understand if Timo, as was heard and read in the summer around the Olympics in Paris, not only gave up preparing for a coaching career, but also put down the racket completely and possibly forever. As much as I can empathize with his desire to take a step back after so many years, I would be very sorry if he did not pass on his enormous knowledge of table tennis. It would be very important for table tennis in Germany if Timo remained connected to the sport.

Great recognition for his personality

Regardless of his many great successes, Timo's character and personality alone make him a role model that is rarely found in sport. Timo is the most sincere, correct, optimistic and friendly person I have ever met. His politeness and down-to-earth attitude have been evidence of his good upbringing since childhood, for which his parents deserve great credit.

Also because Gudrun and Wolfgang Boll were a good mother and father to their son, I never saw myself in the role of Timo's fatherly friend that was often attributed to me. The basis of our relationship was and is a great deal of trust between two people alone. But this trust was also the basis for Timo going beyond his limits time and again. If he hadn't been able to do that, his career might have taken a different course, despite all his talent.”

Recorded by Florian Manzke