Football. Dementia victim, former All Black, Carl Haymann lives with “a limited amount of brain energy per day”
At the age of 43, he captured former rugby player Carl Heymann, who was suffering from the first signs of dementia, in his daily life. The former All Black recalls the symptoms of frequent concussions as a professional rugby player.
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Yesterday at 06:05 | Updated at 11:39
“It basically means I have a limited amount of brain power on a daily basis,” says former New Zealand assistant Carl Hyman, who now complains of memory loss and has admitted to having suicidal thoughts due to the progression of his neurodegenerative disease.
“It’s the best way to sum up my situation and you have to constantly pay attention to what you’re doing and how you want to spend that energy,” continues the former star, who at that time was considered the best in the world. job.
Like him, more and more players of rugby – and other disciplines – are now realizing that they suffer from neurological disorders (permanent brain damage, early-onset dementia, post-traumatic epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, depression, etc.) due to repeated traumas during their lives. Professional life.
“taboo subject”
The former All Blacks, Highlanders, Newcastle and Toulon player, who recently returned for a few days to celebrate his transition into the Hall of Fame, played more than 400 games in his career, including 45 with selection, before retiring in 2015.
In the company of former players with similar disorders such as former English hooker Steve Thompson or Welsh third-line Alex Popham, he also joined a collective action to denounce the inaction of various bodies in recent years.
“I did not participate in this legal action for financial reasons, but to see the sport change from the inside,” he justified himself. “So we can take better care of the players.”
“Are you supposed to play 10 months out of the year? Should players play every weekend, every year for 10 months?” asks Hyman, who now sells boat trips in New Zealand.
“I have my own little idea because I was a part of it all. All these discussions have to take place as soon as possible, otherwise they will be harmful to our sport,” he still judges when France will host the World Cup this fall. “I don’t think this track will be covered in five months, but it will be great because this topic is still a bit of a taboo in sports and everyone is in ostrich,” he continues lamenting.
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