Will there be a next chapter for Kim Polling?

Kim Polling has faced a whirlwind of emotions and experiences in perhaps her latest chapter of her career. Despite not clinching a victory against eventual Olympic champion Barbara Matić and the Italian team's near-miss for an Olympic bronze, Polling's journey is far from over. She recently shared her story and future plans on social media, revealing the challenges and triumphs she faced in this unique Olympic cycle.

The road to Paris 2024 was anything but typical for Kim Polling. After giving birth to her daughter Aurora and experiencing an unexpected change of nationality, Polling embarked on a new Olympic journey that felt like a fairy tale. However, this dream soon encountered harsh reality.

"In the beginning, it felt like a fairy tale," Polling reminisced. "But during the Worlds last May, I began to experience pain in my hip. It turned out to be caused by a hernia."

From Fairy Tale to Nightmare

The fairy tale quickly transformed into a nightmare as Polling's hernia became a significant obstacle with the Olympics fast approaching. Desperate for a solution, Polling turned to Dr. Pantaleoni at a hospital in Perugia. She expressed immense gratitude for his immediate assistance, which allowed her to undergo surgery promptly.

"I will never forget that weekend of June 22," Polling shared. "While my partner Andrea was in Liguria with his family and our judokas, my mother flew in from the Netherlands to take care of Aurora. Francesco and I traveled to Perugia for the operation, which was successful."

Trials on the Road to Recovery

Despite the successful surgery, the road to recovery was fraught with challenges. Not even 30 minutes after leaving the hospital, Polling faced another obstacle when the car's air conditioning failed amidst a heatwave. Additionally, various red lights signaled trouble, but they managed to make it 450 kilometers before the car ultimately broke down near Turin. Fortunately, Chicca and Tony came to her rescue and brought her home safely.

"The operation was a success, but the journey home was an ordeal," Polling recalled. "After the operation, I had to rest completely before restarting training. It’s not easy to be told you cannot train when you’re only a month away from the Olympics."

The Mental Battle

Determined to stay mentally strong, the accomplished judoka reached out to Cor van der Geest, seeking his help to ensure she was in the right mindset for the upcoming Games. She moved to the Olympic Center in Ostia in July, dedicating nearly four hours a day to therapy and training.

"With almost four hours of therapy a day from the medical team at Fijlkam, a lot of training on the bicycle, and gradually returning to judo, I gave everything I had when we arrived at the Olympic Games," Polling said.

The Olympic Performance

Despite her rigorous preparation, Polling faced stiff competition. She finished ninth individually, losing to the eventual Olympic champion before the quarterfinals to the later Olympic Champion Barbara Matic. In the team event, the Italian team narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing in fifth place.

"I gave everything I had," Polling reflected. "Individually, I came in ninth. With the team, we were incredibly close to a medal but had to settle for fifth place."

Contract prolongation

As this Olympic cycle concludes, Polling looks forward to a period of rest and recovery. She plans to focus on her back's proper recovery and spend quality time with her supportive family.

"Now it’s time for rest, a proper recovery for my back, and most of all, a lot of quality time with my wonderful family who is always there to support me," Polling said, expressing her gratitude and looking ahead to the future.

Polling's journey in judo may have hit a pause, but it is far from over. Her experiences in this Olympic cycle have added another chapter to her storied career, filled with lessons of resilience, the importance of mental strength, and the unwavering support of family and friends. As she takes this time to recover and rejuvenate, the judo world eagerly awaits her next move which could be a continuation of her contract in the army and next World Championships, but the Olympic Games in LA seems far away. Still we are confident that Kim Polling will return stronger, mentally and physically recovered and ready for what the future brings her.