Orange-international Slöetjes (30) finally stops playing volleyball after the break | NOW

Lonneke Slöetjes leaves volleyball. Orange-international 302 times, who had already taken a break to distance himself from his sport, decided that his career was definitely over.

Slöetjes, 30, has played abroad at club level for years and has grown into one of the best Dutch volleyball players of all time over the past decade. She is now focusing on a social career.

Slöetjes has already competed in the Games with Orange and that was in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The Netherlands won a medal in the Brazilian city due to a loss in the consolation final against the United States.

In early 2020, the born Achterhoekse with the Netherlands seized in addition to a ticket for the Tokyo Games. Slöetjes then took the time to think about the continuation of his career. “Over the past year, I have researched motives and motivations to return to play,” Slöetjes said on Tuesday of his decision to quit.

“The itch to go back to play has not come. I notice that I am drawing a lot of energy from other things that come my way that I can learn, for example in the field of my studies. I also want to join my family. . are near now. “

Photos of Lonneke Slöetjes’ long international career

Slöetjes has won the Champions League twice

Slöetjes made her international debut in 2008 and has become an important striker. In 2015, she was close to the European title with the orange team, but in the final in Ahoy with eleven thousand spectators, Russia was too strong.

Slöetjes also made a strong impression at the Rio Games, where the Orange team lost to the last Chinese Olympic champion in the semi-finals. She was named the tournament’s best diagonal player.

At the club level, Slöetjes had the most success with Turkish VakifBank Istanbul, with whom she won the Champions League in 2017 and 2018. “The successes with Orange and Turkish club VakifBank will always stay with me”, Sloëtjes said on Tuesday. “And of course the many friendships I have made through volleyball. Everything is fine.”