New York Red Bulls defender John Tolkin has had a whirlwind summer that has taken him through a unique experience as an Olympian with the US Men’s national team. While the team may have finished in the quarterfinals with a loss to Morocco, the time spent is something that the young player will forever keep in his memory.
“To be a part of that, it was an absolute blast,” said Tolkin on representing his country. “I didn’t want it to end, to be honest. Definitely something I’ll never forget.”
Tolkin played in every game for the U23 team as the team wen 2-1-0 in the group stage, notching impressive wins over New Zealand and Guinea. After losing the first game 3-0 to France, the US only allowed one goal in the remainder of group play and solidified their place in the tournament’s knockout round. Their Moroccan opposition was quite the mountain to climb, and while the loss was disappointing, the New Jersey native knows he made an impression that will last for some time.
As a team, the group had quite a different experience than most other Olympians. The group was unable to attend or closing ceremonies due to fixture scheduling. However, the group made the best of it with their own celebration, marking how unified and positive the atmosphere was for the team.
“We had a little team dinner where we wore our opening ceremony outfits,” said Tolkin on the team’s own festivities. “Walker Zimmerman and (Tanner) Tessman did intros for us so that was a nice little thing to do. When we went to Paris, I happened to go see some swimming and Katie Ledecky. Really cool to see what other sports were there, the atmospheres there. It was packed. A lot of fun as well.”
When discussing how the team performed on the field, Tolkin’s tone is a bit more introspective. Yes, the team’s accomplishment of qualifying for the first time in 12 years was notable. However, the competitor in the young wingback is one that is never satisfied. While the team may have inspired a fanbase that has had a rough summer, there is still more work to do.
Tolkin himself knows that his future with the top men’s national team is achievable given his accomplishments. The work is still there to be done as the player continues to make his mark with the New York Red Bulls and has certainly caught the eyes of European teams for the better part of a year.
“Obviously we’re not satisfied with how it ended but I think overall we were proud of what we accomplished. I thought I had a good tournament. The coach really helped me and the staff and other players. All the credit to them. It gives me confidence to come back here.”
Jumping back into the mix won’t be easy. Tolkin hasn’t played in a month and the Red Bulls haven’t taken the field since their disappointing Leagues Cup exit earlier in the month. Still, the defender is ready as the team takes on Charlotte this weekend and has their eyes set on what the playoffs hold in 2024.
“This weekend will be exciting. It’s almost like a new start for the final games. Super pumped.”
photo by Matt Kremkau