Hendrik Brocks' Achievement, A Bicycle Athlete Who Gets Soekarno's Attention Until He Brings Home Gold At The 1962 Asian Games

Hendra Gunawan or Hendri Brocks (center). (Photo: KONI Documentation)

YOGYAKARTA Indonesia has just lost a cycling athlete, Hendra Gunawan or Hendrik Brocks. Hendrik Brock died on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at the age of 80. What is interesting is that he is widely known as a bicycle racing legend. This name arose because of Hendrik Brocks' various achievements that had been achieved during his lifetime.

Hendrik is a cycling racing athlete who was born on March 27, 1942 in Sukabumi. His passion for bicycles began when he was in elementary school. Seeing his son likes bicycles, his father then awarded a used racing bike hendrik. With that bicycle, Hendrik also won several championships in various cities.

One of the moments that made his name known to many people was when he participated in a bicycle competition in Jakarta in 1959. At that time the event was held on the Jakarta-Serang-Jakarta route. In the same year, Hendrik managed to enter the Bike Racing National Training Center through the National Invitation ahead of the preparation for the 1960 Rome Olympics. Unfortunately, he and his teammates failed to get a place in the championship.

Indonesia's failure at the Rome Olympics in 1960 received a response from President Soekarno. After the athletes returned to the country, Soekarno asked that bicycle racing be a top priority in the 1962 Asian Games championship. RI-1 wants Indonesia to successfully bring home gold.

At that time, the Indonesian bicycle national team was raised by a coach from East Germany namedten Nietzsche. With high training and discipline, Indonesia managed to bring home three golds. Of course, Hendrik became one of the athletes who managed to get the gold.

In the 1962 Asian Games IV which was held in Jakarta, Hendirk Brocks is remembered as a three-gold-winning bicycle athlete in the individual number Road Race 190 kilometers, a 100-kilometer Time Trial Team, and a 190 km Roadrace Team.

Hendirk's success at the 1962 Asian Games made him the most Indonesian athletes who won gold medals.

Not only that, Hendrik's career continued to skyrocket. He managed to win several championships. Several achievements by Hendrik Brocks, for example in the 1963 Ganefo championship, which managed to bring home one gold and one silver.

Hendrik also got one gold, one silver, and two bronze at Ganefo Asia 1966. Meanwhile, in 1967 Hendrik got two gold at the national championship.

Being a legend athlete in his time turned out to not contain Hendirk Brocks' life in wealth. The man who is also nicknamed the Asian Tiger actually lives modestly with his wife Yati Suryati (67). Both of them occupied a group of houses inherited from his parents on Jalan Bhayangkara, Gang Rawasalak, Sriwedari Village, Gunungpuyuh District, Sukabumi City.

Hendrik's life was increasingly limited after he was sentenced to glaukuma in 2007. This condition made his two eyes unable to see. Hendrik had undergone two surgerys to restore his eyes but his condition did not improve.

Even so, he had lived with simplicity without significant attention from the government. He only relies on his personal assets that continue to be sold to make a living, plus his single son's topoltan.

Now, Hendra Gunawan or Hendrik Brocks has passed away leaving his fragrant name. Goodbye, legend!

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