“I hope he gets help” – Former Olympic champion shocked by Raymond van Barneveld’s comments

The candid remarks from Raymond van Barneveld about the impact of losing have sparked plenty of debate. The five-time world champion recently said that a defeat at the World Darts Championship can feel, emotionally, like losing a loved one. That striking comparison triggered widespread discussion and also prompted a response from former Olympic cycling champion Leontien van Moorsel.

The topic came up on the TV show De Oranjezomer. Presenter Hélène Hendriks asked Van Moorsel how she used to handle disappointment when she failed to win an important cycling race. The former top athlete acknowledged that a defeat certainly hit her, but stressed that she quickly shifted her focus.

“I was sick about it, but I also started analyzing right away to know what I had to do in the next race to be better,” said Van Moorsel. She believes disappointment is part of elite sport, but that it is important to turn it into motivation for the next challenge.

However, she felt Van Barneveld’s comparison with losing a loved one went far too far. “No, that’s not comparable at all,” she responded firmly.

Studio guest Rutger Castricum also weighed in on the Dutch darter’s comments. After a clip of Van Barneveld was shown, he said: “That’s also a problem he carries with him. If losing feels like you’re losing a family member, then you’re not going to win.”

Van Moorsel agreed and voiced her concern about the mental strain Van Barneveld seems to experience. “That’s awful, isn’t it? Look how often he has lost in recent years. What a miserable life he has actually had then. I also hope he’s offered help. I just find this sad.”

Castricum then called the situation “tragic” and pointed out that during the most successful period of Van Barneveld’s career he seemingly had those heavy feelings less. “He’s been a huge hero as well. There was a period when he won a lot. Apparently he didn’t have that then.”

Van Barneveld’s comments came from Wilfred Genee’s Showbird podcast. In it, the 59-year-old darter offered a glimpse into the mental battle he has been fighting for years. He said that as a child he tried various sports but never truly excelled. Only when he got his hands on a set of darts did he discover where his talent lay.

That is exactly why a defeat feels especially heavy for him. “Every time I fall flat on my face, and that’s happened regularly in recent years, I go back to that little boy from before. Like: see, you’re no good at all. You can’t do anything in life. That’s what I told myself,” said Van Barneveld.

With that candid admission, the Dutch darts legend showed that elite sport is not only about performance at the oche, but also about the mental pressure that comes with it. His words have now sparked a broader discussion about the psychological side of top-level sport and the impact that years of competing at the highest level can have.