The Secret Balance of Champions

Have you always been curious how elite athletes achieved their success? And how they deal with the difficulties they have faced in their personal lives and careers? Then the international book titled “The Secret Balance of Champions, Health Challenges in Elite Sport” is for you!

Get inspired by the unique reflection of 32 champions. Check out their interviews in the videos below!

Petr Cech

Mo Farah

Marianne Timmer

Kiki Bertens

Dwight Philips

Ila Borders

Pieter van den Hoogenband

Geremi Njitap Fotso

Danka Barteková

Arjen Robben

Maarten van der Weijden

Abhinav Bindra

Lydia Williams

Evgeniy Levchenko

Marit Bjoergen

Niccolò Campriani

Dorian van Rijsselberghe

Epke Zonderland

Blake Leeper

Elise Christie

Nouchka Fontijn

Zanele Mdodana

Florence Schelling

Alistair Overeem

Sarah Gregorius

Willie Gault

Chris Hoy

Steven Kitshoff

Jetze Plat

Suresh Raina

Apolo Anton Ohno

Chris Froome

News & Media

Book release livestream

On Thursday February 4th 2021, the book was released through a livestream. Athletes from the book made an appearance to share their story and the first copy of the book was handed to Marco van Basten. The stream was recorded and is available to watch.

Watch livestream!

FIFPro Press Release

On Monday 25 January 2021, FIFPro published their Press Release in which they announced they will be hosting the online launch of the new book "The Secret Balance of Champions – Health Challenges in Elite Sport", by Vincent Gouttebarge, Gino Kerkhoffs and Margriet de Schutter.

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About the book

Content

'The Secret Balance of Champions' explores the health challenges elite athletes might face during or after their career. This book is based on eight chapters compiled by some of the best sports and medical experts in the world, and offers the unique reflections of 32 champions. A must read for everyone who wants to get the most out of their potential!

Featuring: Petr Czech, Mo Farah, Marianne Timmer, Kiki Bertens, Dwight Phillips, Ila Borders, Pieter van den Hoogenband, Geremi Njitap Fotso, Danka Barteková, Arjen Robben, Maarten van der Weijden, Abhinav Bindra, Lydia Williams, Evgeniy Levchenko, Marit Bjørgen, Niccoló Campriani, Dorian van Rijsselberghe, Epke Zonderland, Blake Leeper, Elise Christie, Nouchka Fontijn, Zanele Mdodana, Florence Schelling, Alistair Overeem, Sarah Gregorius, Willie Gault, Chris Hoy, Steven Kitshoff, Jetze Plat, Suresh Raina, Apolo Anton Ohno, Chris Froome, and foreword by Marco van Basten.

Push Sports is very proud to co-sponsor this unique project

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About the authors

‘The Secret Balance of Champions’ was created and co-written by Vincent Gouttebarge (FIFPRO Chief Medical Officer), Gino Kerkhoffs (Orthopaedic surgeon within elite sport at Amsterdam UMC, the Netherlands) and Margriet de Schutter (former Dutch short track speed skater and founder of Extopsporter.nl, an online platform for active and former elite athletes).

Editors