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2024 Olympics; John Tolkin Chatham NJ USA Soccer Q&A

VaselineJuly 23, 2024

1 4 minutes read

2024 Olympics; John Tolkin Chatham NJ USA Soccer Q&A

Chatham’s John Tolkin is one of two New Jersey players selected for the U.S. Olympic soccer team.

The starting left back for Major League Soccer’s Red Bulls, Tolkin has made seven appearances for the under-23s leading up to the Olympics, and one with the full national team. Known for his bleached-blonde hair, Tolkin has seven goals and 13 assists in 109 MLS games over five seasons.

The 21-year-old grew up in Chatham Borough but joined Ironbound at the age of 9 or 10. In 2015 he moved to the Red Bulls Academy and five years later he signed a contract with his own club.

For the men, the Olympics are an under-23 tournament, with only three players born before Jan. 1, 2001. Team USA begins play on Wednesday against host France, coached by former Red Bulls international midfielder Thierry Henry, two days before the opening ceremony. The Americans also play New Zealand on July 27 and close out the group stage against Guinea on July 30.

Tolkin was holding a Q&A session with the media from the team’s training camp in Bordeaux ahead of the Olympic Games.

How did you find out you were on the team?

“(Head coach Marko Mitrović) sent me a text message, calling me after training. Sometimes that’s a scary message because I knew the selection was coming. I called him and he didn’t pick up. He FaceTimed me, and I’ve seen FaceTime videos of the squad reveal before. I thought, ‘Oh, this must be a good conversation.’ He picked up the phone and said, ‘I have good news.’ It was super exciting to hear what he had to say. ‘You made the selection,’ and here we are.”

How did you react?

“It affects my parents more than it does me, because I go through it every day. Everything comes at you so fast and it’s hard to slow down. After I hung up with Marko, I called my mom (Sara) and told her I was on the team. She just started crying, because of all the hard work she’s put into the process from where we started to where we are now. That’s when I realized how deep it really goes. It was a humbling moment, honestly.”

How did you get into football?

“It started where I grew up in Chatham. It was more of a fun game with my friends. Everyone I played with was in my neighborhood. Obviously, we had a great connection. It was a fun city team where you play against other cities. I initially said no to Ironbound because I didn’t want to leave my comfort zone and my friends. My dad (Chris) was like, ‘Yeah, you gotta go for your career. It’s just the next step.’ Once I got there, I was playing with guys from all over the state. Where we were at Ironbound, there was a really strong football culture, a lot of South American influences. I think it was a different style of play, a lot more intense than Chatham. As you get older, you start to realize that those experiences really helped you, pushing me out of my comfort zone, learning new cultures and meeting different people and playing with different players who had different ideas.

“I must have been 9 or 10, and I was still playing other sports. I had to break them off, which was hard. We had a basketball tournament in my city. One day my dad said, ‘We have to leave for practice.’ I was like, ‘No, I have to finish this basketball game here.’ Eventually I had to get rid of all that stuff. Then I thought, ‘Okay, it’s getting more serious. Maybe there are opportunities outside of this city team.'”

Ready for the Olympics? Our Guide for NJ Athletes Heading to the 2024 Summer Games

Did you ever think you would be on the Olympic team?

“It’s a bit trippy. I started playing professionally (soccer) five years ago. If I thought this would happen later, I would probably laugh at myself a bit. It’s surreal to be here, getting ready for the first game. It’s really cool and an honor.”

How do you feel now that the opening match is starting?

“When we realized it was going to be France in the first game, I think everyone, myself included, wondered what that would be like: walking onto the field, seeing the atmosphere, all the French flags, and then seeing the little American section. Hopefully it’s not small, but just what that would be like, seeing our families in the stands, and playing next to each other in a big game.

“I always say that if I’m not nervous, I don’t really care. If the nerves are there, that’s good. Usually they’re always there. I think everyone is going to feel the nerves for these games coming up.”

What’s on the cards for you? Are the Olympics a stepping stone to the 2026 World Cup?

“Yes, 100%. That was one of the conversations we had within the group. (Former Seton Hall midfielder) Sacha Kljestan, last camp before this, came and spoke to us because he had played in the Olympics (2008 Beijing). A lot of the guys on his team used it as an opportunity to go to the senior team in the future and move to new clubs. He explained how important it is and how big of an opportunity it is. I think everyone took that to heart and everyone here knows that.”

How has your mindset changed over the course of your career?

“In the beginning, as a young guy, you’re trying to absorb as much information as you can. Maybe it’s more related to self-performance, making a name for yourself and establishing that starting role on your team. As I’ve gone through the years, it’s gone from myself and my performance to trying to help my teammates and being a vocal leader. Last year, I was just trying to grow in that area. This year, I’m trying to tie it all together with performance and leadership.”

VaselineJuly 23, 2024

1 4 minutes read