Michael van Gerwen has come under fire from former Dutch hockey stars Ellen Hoog and Naomi van As following the King’s Night incident, in which the three-time world champion was struck in the face. Speaking on a Sportnieuws.nl podcast, Hoog did not hold back, saying the darter must “drastically change his lifestyle” to consistently contend for the biggest titles again. “Yes, agreed,” Hoog said when asked if a change was necessary.
Hoog referenced a broader pattern of off-stage distractions, including an earlier incident in a kebab shop. “He’s gotten into another scuffle,” she said. On the recent King’s Night episode she added: “He was at a festival and got slapped in the face by some deadbeat. He’s obviously a familiar face, he really stands out so everyone goes up to him. Someone was just too hammered and smacked him in the face. And then he ran after him.” While Van Gerwen appears mainly a victim, Hoog believes it raises questions about his choices. “It’s all just unwise. I also think: you’re an elite athlete. At least, that’s how you want to present yourself. They play darts all year round and if you want to perform well, you have to live accordingly. I believe that if you’re fresh and fit and watch your nutrition, you’ll have much better concentration and throw better than if you don’t.”
Hoog did show understanding for Van Gerwen’s personal circumstances. “He got divorced last year and I think he’s kind of reliving a second youth. He was always in the regime of darts and a family at home.” Van As followed up with a broader question about the lives of top players: “What kind of regime is that? I’m so curious. Those top darters, what kind of life do they lead? Do they all watch their nutrition? Do they train too?” Hoog believes physical preparation matters even in darts. “I’d think so, because you still have to train your arms and your overall fitness has to be good, otherwise you’ll get injured if you keep making the same movement.” Van As replied with a wink: “I’d like to see them do a beep test,” before acknowledging that endurance matters for concentration and conditioning on stage.
Hoog was critical of Van Gerwen’s current situation. “I think he’s doing very little at the moment. It’s a real shame, because he has more than enough talent. He just doesn’t live for it.” The perpetrator of the King’s Night slap has since apologized, but the debate over Van Gerwen’s lifestyle choices continues to simmer.
