For the Netherlands midfielder Ellen Hoog, 2014 was a good year. Over the course of 12 months, the 28-year-old was voted Best Player of the Tournament at the Hockey World Cup, became Amsterdam’s Sports Woman of the Year and then took the title, FIH Player of the Year. Currently, her trophy cabinet includes two Olympic Gold medals, two World Cup wins and a Hockey World League title, and she is now eyeing up a third Olympic gold in Rio 2016.
FIH caught up with Ellen after her club side Amsterdam returned from a visit to Iceland.
Qu: How did you feel when you were announced as the Player of the Year?
EH: I felt really happy and honoured. 2014 was already a very successful year, so it was like a cherry on the cake to win this prize. All the success of 2014 has been a team effort so I’m very grateful to my teammates.
Qu: In a tremendous year for your team, what was the standout moment?
EH: Just before the end of the match (the World Cup final), when we asked for a video umpire referral. I think the match had only 20 seconds left and the crowd went crazy. At that moment we realised we were about to become world champions. We were celebrating but at the same time we knew the match wasn’t finished yet. That was a really special and impressive moment.
Qu: How did you feel when you were crowned World Champions?
EH: It felt really special. The ‘Road to The Hague’ as we called it, with all the preparations towards the tournament was already really special. To become World Champions with this perfect team, in your own country, in a full orange-coloured stadium was really a dream come true.
Qu: What do you think the successful hosting of the World Cup in The Hague has done for hockey in the Netherlands and also around the World?
EH: The World Cup in The Hague was a great event and I think it has reached many people all over the world. I saw a lot of children in the stands and around the stadium, so hopefully they got even more enthusiastic about hockey. It would be great if we can see some of those kids play in a World Cup tournament in a few years themselves.
Qu: You beat a lot of other top players to the award, what do you think is your personal biggest strength as a hockey player?
EH: I think my creativity and my offensive skills are my biggest strength. I’m not big, but I feel very fit and strong. It gives me the dynamic ability to give 100 per cent for the team every game. I like taking the lead by working hard. But, I have to improve my defensive skills and I want to be even more dangerous in the attacking moments. Also I still have to learn to take the lead more on a tactical level during the match.
Qu: You already have a high profile in the Netherlands, but do you feel that women's sport generally is getting a higher profile because of the televising of events and the growth of social media?
EH: I think social media and television is definitely giving us a higher profile. We all have many followers on social media, allowing us to get in touch with our fans. We are really open and share many photos and stories, which makes the connection with our followers very interactive. It’s fun to be in touch with your followers and fans like that.
Qu: What are your personal sporting ambitions for the next few years?
EH: First we have to qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio, so the coming months I’m totally focused on that first step. Eventually, my biggest dream is to win a third golden medal at the Olympic Games in 2016, but there is still a long way to go. After Rio, we’ll see again.
Qu: As an international athlete, do you sometimes feel as if you live in a bubble, and how do you relax to get away from the pressures of being in that high intensity environment?
EH: I am extremely grateful to be able to play hockey full time, so mainly I just enjoy the games, the training sessions, the camps and the tournaments. It’s a lot of fun to work with a great group of people throughout the season, but it’s very important to pick your moments of relaxation. When I’m not busy playing hockey, I like to share my time with friends and family. I can really enjoy a nice lunch and coffee somewhere in my home city Amsterdam for instance. When I have more time off than an afternoon or day, I love going on a weekend trip. Last summer I went to California to do a road trip with my boyfriend for a few weeks. It really reloads your battery if you can focus on something else and relax if you have some time off.
