In an emotional day at the Max Schmeling Halle in Berlin, 4,000 friends, family, teammates and fans gathered to say a final farewell to one of the legends of the women’s game.
Natascha Keller, one of the true greats, and part of a dynasty of hockey-playing Kellers, has hung up her hockey stick at all levels of the game. And the moment was marked by an exhibition match and tribute that took place after the women’s and men’s final of the 54th Indoor Hockey finals in Berlin this month.
The 37-year-old retired from international competition after the London 2012 Olympics, but has continued to play club hockey for HC Berlin.
To mark her retirement, a team from HC Berlin played an exhibition match against the BHC Allstars, many of whom had played alongside Natascha at the 2004 Olympics. The Allstars ran out 6-1 winners. Janne Muller-Wieland played alongside her former international team-mate in the Allstars team and later tweeted: “Honoured to have played with this legend. Lifelong memories of an amazing player and friend. Danke.”
After the match, Stephan Abel, the president of the German Hockey Federation, said: “Tashi, you are not only a great athlete, but also a great role model. You have earned the greatest respect around the world and we thank you.”
Natascha replied: “I’m so happy with how everything happened. I have had an amazing career. I want to thank all those who belong to the hockey family and who have been with me all these years. See you soon, I’m not going away.”
And Markus Weise, the current men’s coach, who took the women to the Olympic finals on three occasions added: “I trust she will go into coaching. Tashi was the most gifted technician I ever experienced. She was an outstanding player and is an outstanding person, a unique combination.”
In a glittering hockey career for Germany that spanned 17 years, Keller scored 209 goals in 425 appearances, in both the indoor and outdoor game. She competed in five Olympics, winning gold at the 2004 Athens games. With her father and brothers all playing for Germany as well, the Keller household has four Olympic gold medals and three silver medals.
Aside from a possible coaching career, Natascha is fast becoming adept on the golf course. There could be more medals in the Keller sports cabinet yet.
