From Rio reserve to standout Tokyo star, Alexander Hendrickx needs three goals to equal the Olympic tournament record, has played with six stictches in his forehead and is part of a team which is perhaps favourite to land a first Olympic gold.

It’s yet another subplot in an already remarkable story of Belgium hockey over the last 15 years.

“He’s the best in the world. You could argue that maybe there’s someone better, I haven’t seen them,” Belgium coach Shane McLeod said of Hendrickx’s power flicking.

“I can’t exaggerate the amount of work and effort that goes into something that he appears to make so, so simple.”

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