"My wife was pregnant but was there to support me" - Gonzalo Peillat recalls unique journey from Rio to Paris ahead of Hockey India League [Exclusive]

Outwardly stoic, ruthlessly efficient and clinical as ever, Gonzalo Peillat almost singlehandedly helped Argentina win their first Olympic gold in men's hockey at Rio 2016.

Peillat, who has displayed his sublime drag-flicking skills at the Hockey India League in the past, is now all set to test the best penalty corner defenses in the competition when he takes the field for the Hyderabad Toofans' side.

In stark contrast to his on-field image, the 32-year-old who was part of Germany's silver-medal-winning side at Paris 2024, comes across as modest and intensely emotional during the course of an exclusive interaction with Sportskeeda.

Not many players in international hockey have the distinction of winning Olympic medals while playing for different countries. Gonzalo Peillat, who scored 11 goals during a dream run at the Rio Olympics, catapulted the Argentine side to Olympic glory in 2016.

A disappointing finish at the 2018 World Cup, however, led to a stormy phase within the Argentine camp following which Peillat moved to Germany and was eventually picked to play for the German side.

Despite taking his time to adapt to a new set-up in a new country, the star drag-flicker played his part in assisting the Germans to clinch a silver medal at Paris 2024.

Peillat reckons that the silver for Germany was, in fact, equivalent to a gold medal because it was a difficult experience whilst playing for a different country. Not least, it was also more special, since his wife, who was pregnant, was there to support him in Paris.

"Of course, one is gold, one is silver, but for me, this medal with Germany was also like a gold (medal) because it was quite a difficult time for me. I played for the first time for another country. My wife was pregnant at that time during the Olympics. She was there supporting me, so it was kind of a really great moment," he explained.

The ace defender was quick to point out that the memories of Rio continue to be special as well while highlighting the presence of his entire family in the stands in 2016.

"The goals I scored in Rio were special, the biggest goals you can get as an athlete and the ones you remember for a lifetime. The excitement we had over there was crazy. I think it was perfect because the Olympics were in Rio, which was close to Argentina, so my whole family could travel over there just to watch our games. We loved that time, that was perfect," Peillat recalled in an impassioned tone.

Peillat, who was part of the Kalinga Lancers team during the 2014 season of the Hockey India League (HIL), then moved to Uttar Pradesh Wizards. The memories are still "fresh" he asserts since the HIL was one the first big tournaments he played outside of Argentina.

The benefits of learning from some of the best international coaches on the world stage is an experience that Gonzalo Peillat continues to cherish.

"That (the HIL) was a long time ago. But the memories are quite fresh because the first time I played in the Hockey India League was also one of my biggest tournaments I played outside of the country," he revealed.

"I really enjoyed playing alongside other international players, a lot of international Indian players, and also with the kind of coaches that they had from the best teams in the world. You have the opportunity to be training with them only when you play the Hockey India League, which was amazing," Gonzalo Peillat pointed out.

"The equalizing goal was special and a big moment in the game" - Gonzalo Peillat recounts scoring against India in Olympic semifinal

Gonzalo Peillat surrounded by teammates after scoring against India- Source: Getty

Gonzalo Peillat was at the top of his game during the big Olympic semifinal against India in Paris. After India's very own short corner specialist Harmanpreet Singh had given his team an early lead, Peillat spoilt the party for the eight-time gold medalists with a stunning equalizer early in the second quarter.

Gonzalo Peillat was candid enough to admit that the Germans were not at their best in the opening quarter during which time the Indians created plenty of chances. The Buenos Aires-born player was, however, instrumental in changing the course of the entire contest.

Having beaten Sreejesh with a lethal drag flick, Peillat helped his team earn a second penalty corner three minutes before the long breather. The drag-flick, which was stopped on the line, led to a penalty stroke allowing Christopher Ruhr to make it 2-1 for the Germans.

"Of course, it was really nice to score this goal in the semifinals because, to be honest, we were not playing our best game over there. India had huge chances to score. They had a lot of corners and we were playing, just to be honest, quite bad," said Gonzalo Peillat as he turned the clock back.

"We were behind on the scoreboard, which was quite tough for us. Then we had this opportunity to equalize with a corner and then we were back in the game, which gave us the opportunity to keep pushing and to put pressure on India. The equalizing goal was quite special and a big moment in the game," he observed.

Interestingly, Peillat also scored a goal for the Germans against Argentina in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Olympics. Germany went on to lose to the Netherlands in a shootout in the final after having beaten India 3-2 in the semifinals.

Scoring goals via drag-flicks is becoming increasingly difficult with penalty corner defenses improving all the time, but Gonzalo Peillat asserted that he relies on foxing the runners with body feints and "fakes" to offset the defense.

"You need to train yourself to try different variations. The goalkeeper stays much of the time on only one side of the goal, which makes it even more difficult. That's why you need to train doing fakes with the body, fakes with the hands, and look for maybe small spaces between the first runners, the goalkeeper, and the line boys," he elucidated as only a master dragflicker can.

"I think it's quite difficult, but I think you need to keep trying what you're doing during the trainings and always keep progressing," said Peillat, who made his Olympic debut for the Los Leones in 2012.

Gonzalo Peillat is sure to be on target when he takes the pitch for the Hyderabad Toofans, who face off against the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers in their Hockey India League opener in Rourkela on December 29.

Peillat will also marshal the defense of the Hyderabad side alongside such stalwarts as Australia's Mathew Dawson and Belgium's Arthur De Sloover.