Multi-Talent

Whether or not his X-factor is due to his hair, we will leave in the middle for now, but his favourite animal is a lion for sure. Before he joined the Red Lions, Arthur was already a multi-talented sports fanatic in heart and soul. He even almost became a tennis player just like Roger Federer, one of his biggest idols. At age 5 he became a member of the KHC Dragons in Brasschaat, the local Field hockey club that raises a remarkable amount of talent and the biggest supplier for our Red Lions.

His talent didn’t go unnoticed for long, because at 15 Arthur was selected for their very strong men’s First team. Barely a year later he joined the Red Lions, becoming their youngest player.

“The beautiful part is that my parents always gave me the freedom to choose what I liked doing. I was never pushed into a certain direction. I did the things I liked. The only thing that was expected from me was commitment. Once I made my choice, they thought that I always had to give everything at every training and every game. That was not a problem for me. Despite the busy sports schedule, my brother and me were still able to find the time for extra practice in the garden.”

Antwerp hands

You will never catch Arthur on vanity or magnification. Down-to-earth as he is, he remains remarkably calm under all praise, success and prizes.

“My friends often call me ‘chansaar’, which translates to lucky bastard. You only have to play a bit of hockey, they tell me, but while they go out on a Saturday night, I’m in my bed sleeping. Before they finally get out of bed on their lazy Sunday, I’ve already spent hours on the field. It’s true that I’m lucky that I can do what I like most every day, yet top sport requires sacrifices and you must be prepared to make them every single day. Every top athlete knows what I mean.”

If you ask him if he received this award due to an extraordinary talent or because he just works better and harder than the rest, he references Antwerp:

“Maybe I just have good hands?”

Winning the World Cup

The best hockey player in the world does not have long term plans, winning the world cup in December is enough of an objective to focus on. His team is key in everything he does, their goal is his goal, and in everything he says and does, they are central to his actions.

Arthur Van Doren: “I’m unbelievably honoured to win both awards, all the more because the other nominees are incredibly talented athletes and formidable opponents. I did not see this coming, no. However, nothing would have been possible without my team mates, the staff and the coaches. They made me into the athlete I am today, that's why all the gratitude I feel goes out to them. I’d like to dedicate these prices to all of them.