It is not only the beautiful view from his garden that stands out. Another eye-catcher hangs in the living room, as appears when Ruben Van Gucht is picked up for his visit to ‘The House’. A large photo of his wife and former Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlašić adorns the wall. “She is in my life every day, but she is also in my picture every day,” says Van Gucht.
Let that life be one of the most talked about private lives of the year. Last summer, Van Gucht was back in the spotlight when, during a video interview with Radio 2, women’s legs appeared in the background on his hotel bed, while he was reporting from Germany on the European Football Championship. Moreover, he is regularly linked to several women.
He himself lets the criticism slide away. “It all depends on how much you care about it. I have learned that over the years and have no problem with it when life is difficult,” he says diplomatically. He prefers not to put any terms on his relationship itself.
READ ALSO.Ruben Van Gucht explains the European Championships on Radio 2, but bare women’s legs steal the attention
“Because people like to put their stamp on it. It doesn’t matter, it’s my private life. But I have a life in Belgium and I have a life in Croatia, also relationally. And there is always very open communication with the people involved. No one in the world has to worry about them. Everyone knows everything and can leave even if they don’t like it. Blanka may also say that this is not the type of life she wants to live, but she doesn’t say that.”
Satisfied
He shares a son, Mondo, with Blanka. His own father wrote computer programs independently and was barely home. Although Van Gucht always said that he would not do fatherhood in the same way as his father, he sees his own son even less than he saw his father. “But that doesn’t bother me. I have many conversations about this with Blanka. But at the moment that is the best solution for us. I also have bills to pay here and I also have ambitions. And we are now satisfied with that.”
Last summer was a busy period for Van Gucht. He was abroad for eleven weeks. But he had wanted to become a sports journalist since he was a child. “I certainly didn’t become a sports journalist because I wasn’t good enough as a football player or as a cyclist. From the age of seven I was really conscious about watching TV and recognizing cyclists.”
