Biography

I started canoeing back in 1996 at the age of 11 when a friend took me out on a lake in his father’s canoe. I was instantly hooked and I soon joined the Volmolense Kano Club (VKC) in Waalre, close to Eindhoven. The VKC is the biggest slalom club in the Netherlands and at that time all the National team athletes and coaches were training there. That's what made it a very inspiring environment to grow up in as a young athlete and get passionate for (white) water and canoeing. Charlotte Groothuis was my first coach and soon afterwards former Dutch team member Maarten Holdrinet coached me and drove my training group everywhere to make us love the water and the game. From my junior years (1999) Han Bijnen started coaching me. He taught me the great skills I need on and off the water. He still is my coach and the most valuable contribution to my canoeing career.

I grew up in a family with two brothers and a sister. As a kid I already loved sports and being outdoors. Playing the piano was one of my hobbies as well. At first I practised athletics for a long time, played some tennis and did mountaineering. When I started canoeing soon everything I did gave way for the sport I loved the most: canoeing.

Personal Nickname: Teek DOB: 8 november 1984 Hometown: Zoetermeer Occupation: Fulltime athlete Length / Weight: 154cm / 80kg	Equipment Boat: Double Dutch Peddle: Lettmann Gear: Sandiline Helmet: Wildwater Buoancy: Sandiline
Canoe Slalom Disciplin: K1 Heren Club: Volmolense Kano Club Coach: Han Bijnen Strength/Conditioning: Hans Kroon Favorite Course: Zoetermeer	General Hobby: webdesign, playing piano Favorite drink: water, Red Bull Favorite food: risotto, pancakes