My life so far

Of course, this is only a glimpse of my life, but I feel like these experiences have led me to where I am today. From gymnastics, to my studies and travel experiences.

Gymnastics

Sports has always been a part of my life. I grew up doing gymnastics and spent many hours in the gym. Step by step I made it to a higher level. For the majority of my gymnastics career, I competed nationally in the first division, which is the second highest level in the Netherlands. At my eighteenth I switched clubs and moved away from home to train for the highest level: elite gymnastics. 

Gymnastics was fun and it has taught me many things, such as working towards goals, determination and perseverance, especially because I always did it in combination with school and eventually university. My life basically existed out of two things: education & gymnastics. Of course, this could be quite challenging, but it was all worth it. I loved it. It brought me so many nice experiences. For competitions, we drove through the whole country. And as my level became higher, I also participated in some international competitions in Belgium and Germany. 

At the same time I started training for elite gymnastics, I also started university: veterinary medicine. As my training hours increased, so did my study hours. Eventually I realized I had to choose between one of them. Plot twist: I quit both. 

Cape Town

Suddenly and completely unexpected I was having a gap year. It felt like starting from zero. What do I want to do with my life? I wasn't sure about anything at all, but I felt like doing something completely different, something I never imagined myself ever doing. I decided to go to Cape Town to do voluntary work. 

I volunteered as a Physical Education coach at a primary school. The organization "Lifezone" uses sport as a tool for personal and social transformation in schools and high-risk communities in various townships. Volunteering for this organization opened my eyes to the power of sport and all its positive aspects. 

After I came back from Cape Town, I decided to study a Bachelor in Physical Education. This brought me onto my next adventure: an exchange semester in South Korea. 

South Korea

M.A. Olympic Studies