“You become very aware of your body”

“Being a high-performance athlete is a profession that you have to master”

Harrie Lavreysen is doing what he enjoys most: cycling at a breathtaking pace. First as BMX cyclist, now as track cyclist. It only made him better and he is almost unbeatable. He became world champion in the sprint and team sprint for three consecutive years. He won three medals in Tokyo, of which two gold medals. Lavreysen is quickly moving to become a phenomenon, although he is not involved in that hype himself. Cycling first and then he will see what comes next.

“If I still know what it means to lose? Sure, it is always in the back of my mind. You have two options during each race: winning or losing. I always try not to be too occupied. With neither of the two. I start at the beginning during each tournament. I observe the options per match. I did so as well in Tokyo. I won gold in the sprint and team sprint there. I was so disappointed about the bronze medal in the Keirin. Perhaps I could have become second. But second or third place does not matter. It does not count at that moment. It does not matter until a couple of days later, when you feel less emotional. The sprint and team sprint were extremely heavy. I was already happy that I had accomplished the finals of the Keirin. But when you are in and you know that you are the fastest in fact, then you want to win. Looking back, I am content about it. I cannot blame myself for anything.

I am doing what I enjoy most: cycling at a breathtaking pace. That is my passion. At the same time, it is my profession. It is something that I am doing fulltime, and so much more than that. I am a high-performance athlete 24/7. I am always busy with it, when I am sitting on the couch at home, when I am on vacation. With eating, training, sleeping, getting rested, recovering. Sport is my number one priority. Being a high-performance athlete is a profession in itself which you have to learn. I learned a lot from Nils van ’t Hoenderdaal. We have been living in the same house for a while. He is four years older than I am and he was already part of the team in 2016 in Rio. He taught me what it is to be a high-performance athlete. You have to do and not to do all kinds of things, in addition to tough trainings. It is relatively easy for me. I have an enormous drive and passion for sports. That helps.

I have been active in sports since my childhood. When I was six years old, I went cycling on the BMX. When I was twelve, I became Dutch champion. When I was fourteen, I became European champion. Around that age, I started to think about a career as a high-performance athlete. Some time before, BMX had become an Olympic sport. I thought it would be nice to go to the Olympics. That dream collapsed when I had to quit BMX cycling. I had already been struggling with injuries for two years. I could not manage it with my shoulders. I have been operated four times. When I fell during a race and both of my shoulders dislocated, that was it. My disappointment did not last for a long time. I fell on Saturday, quit on Monday and on Wednesday, I had my first presence at the track. The coaches at Papendal, where I lived at that time, had seen my talent and eagerly wanted me to join them.

The effect has been quite positive, even though I did not know much about track cycling at that moment. I did not even know who Theo Bos was. That is bad. My best tournament ever were the 2020 World Championships in Berlin. Then I became world champion three times: in the sprint, the team sprint and the Keirin. The World Championships in Apeldoorn were an epic experience as well. We became the world champions with the team sprint, performing for our own audience. Everyone was standing up on the benches. That is great about high-performance sports, celebrating together with your fans. But that is not the only thing. The idea that the hard work pays off, is appealing too. And high-performance sport is fair. When you have done everything you could and you win, it is great as well. When you have done everything you could and someone else wins, it is all right as well. Then the other one is simply better. I respect that.

Sport had not only brought me many successes, but it has taught me a lot as well. For instance, discipline. What I also like, is that you become very aware of your own body. You know exactly when you have to perform to the max, when you have to take your rest, how you have to deal with your injuries, what your body does during a training. And you learn how to work in a team. I don’t know where I will be in ten years from now. That depends on many elements. Whether you stay injury-free, whether you still feel the passion. But I would regret it if I left behind everything I have learned with track cycling. But perhaps I am amidst a societal career at that time.

I am studying very hard indeed. First physics, now business administration. It was impossible to combine physics with high-performance sports. In the end, I transferred to another study. A pity indeed. Physics suits me, I am a scientific type of student. You also notice this in my sports career. I am calculating and I consider things. Aerodynamics, something we are confronted with as track cyclists, is pure physics. I find this interesting. But I also find business administration interesting. That is a precondition. That is how it works with high-performance sports as well. You have to enjoy sports. And you have to enjoy high-performance sports. You may as well quit if it does not make you happy.”

“I am a high-performance athlete 24/7”

Harrie Lavreysen

the profession of the high-performancea athlete

“I am more at ease than I used to be, I will be fine”

Anouk Vetter

Talking about Dutch high-performance athletes, this is one of the most heroic stories of Tokyo 2020. Anouk Vetter won silver in the all-round competition. Whilst two years ago, it was clear for her that her high-performance career was over. That high-performance sport would not yield any results anymore. By having a break, together with a close look at herself, and allowing herself to think differently, she regained having fun in her sport and her performances came back as well. Vetter is a fulltime high-performance athlete. Because she is experiencing the best years of her career, sports is her number one priority and she has deliberately chosen to refrain from any other activities at this moment. “Everyone performs in a different way which suits him or her best. For instance, some are quite able indeed to pursue an education in addition to their sport. It did not work out for me. I have been worried about this for a long time, but I have learned to let it go for now.”

“I am somebody who uses many words to express myself, but if I am asked how I look back at the Tokyo Olympics, I am actually speechless for a moment. I am very proud, but it still feels a bit unreal. An Olympic medal, that has always been a final goal of course. The fact that I have accomplished this all in a sudden, is something that I can hardly believe up till now. I cherish wonderful memories from the entire event. Of course, we knew it would be different than any other event, without an audience. But the organization itself was quite good. The volunteers were enthusiastic and friendly every day. The spirit within TeamNL was great as well. I even thought that the team spirit was even more profound now than during Rio 2016. Perhaps, it was partly because of the circumstances amidst COVID-19, since there was hardly any distraction and, as a result of this, the TeamNL participants went to meet each other more often. Additionally, many of these athletes practice at Papendal nowadays. You regularly meet each other throughout the year, which makes a difference as well. And you recognize the orange color quite soon as well in one of the food corners, I say smiling.

It goes without saying that you are extremely focused on sport during the preparation of games like the Olympics. But sport definitely is a fulltime living for me already. I am involved in it every day, perhaps even very moment of the day. It is a profession, but a very pleasant one indeed. I travel to my profession with great pleasure. However, I have also experienced transitions in my career. From sport as a hobby, towards becoming a talent, towards a true high-performance athlete. I had to navigate my way here. I grew up in a family where everyone had pursued an academic career. I tried this myself as well. I studied law for a while, but my sports physician also concluded after a couple of months: you cannot combine this. The combination was difficult in terms of hours, but I did not feel comfortable with it as well. I did not have a lot of energy. So I quit the studies. I found it interesting and I saw around me how others combined an education together with sport. But it did not work out for me. I have found that hard for a long time. I did not feel complete, because I was ‘only engaged in sport’. In the meantime, I have accepted that I only focus on my high-performance career at present. Many of my friends pursue an education or they have studied and will start working afterwards, but I do all this just a bit differently.

Most people know this indeed: two years ago, I fell down to my knees very hard. All doubts and worries about the future, the stress that high-performance sport causes. I did not see a way out anymore for a while after which I quit temporarily at that time. I slowly found my way back to the top, assisted by a sport psychologist. The first contact I had with him was quite comforting. He recognized the image of other high-performance athletes and said with so many words: ‘You will be all right’. I had to go back to the basics, I wondered: What truly makes me happy? It may sound simple, but you forget this sometimes. Because of the tough trainings and all the stress, from yourself and from the outside world. I had to deal with that in a different way. It was quite important for me to keep things simple and in an organized way. I turned high-performance sport into something extremely big and intense which is true indeed. But on the other hand: if I have done all I could to perform well, then I cannot blame myself and I will see where I end up. I have also learned to set smaller targets. As a high-performance athlete, you tend to quickly focus on the final goal: the Olympics. However, four years pass by under normal circumstances, which is such a long time away. Right now, I only look ahead for a week or a month at times. For instance, I only focus on something in my technique that I want to address during the training.

I am more at ease during big tournaments now. I am still nervous, but I also experience a tranquility, I can let go things more easily now. That also applies to the way I regard my future, my life after the high-performance career. I accept that I will not start any studies until I have completed my current high-performance career and that ‘high-performance sport only’ is quite something indeed. In addition, I develop a lot of skills with it as well. Perseverance and tenacity, only quit when the job is done. Of course, these are characteristics that a high-performance athlete can bring along in particular. But also have a look at the bad moments that I have experienced. You can confront yourself in a very harsh way in high-performance sport. The fact that I experienced this when I was 26 years old, that I fought back and that I have accomplished this once again, truly made me mature. Then, you make great progress as a person. I will be all right. I do it my way and I am proud of my accomplishments up till now. That would also be my advice to all young athletes: choose your own way and do not compare too much with others. It will not help you at all.”

“Sport is a fulltime living for me. I am involved in it every day, perhaps even every moment of the day”

“In high-performance sport, you can confront yourself in a harsh way. The fact that I experienced this when I was 26 years old, that I fought back and that I have accomplished this once again, truly made me mature”

the profession of the high-performancea athlete

“Being a high-performance athlete means absolute dedication to me”

Jetze Plat

He won the gold and bronze medals in Rio in 2016. In Tokyo gold, gold and gold. How can you beat this in Paris in 2024? Hand biker and para-triathlete Jetze Plat still has to find the spark. Something which drives him and as regards which he does everything it takes. He has not found this spark yet, but it will happen just like that. He continues in any case. He loves his life as a high-performance athlete. Subsequently, he may start with his own academy. It still has to be shaped and formed, but he truly wants to help young talents with his experience.

“How do you become a high-performance athlete? Well, it is a process. You are good at something, you are passionate and you improve yourself. That is how it happened with me. I had finished my studies and I started working for a supplier of wheelchairs and hand bikes. Parttime, so that I could practice a lot and improve myself even more. I obtained the A-status in 2011, what actually means that you are a professional high-performance athlete. I quit my job and I started to focus completely on the sport. That did not work out all too well. I did not want to solely focus on myself the entire time. I need the distraction, so I started working again one day a week. I quit when I started to give more clinics over time and when I acquired sponsor activities.

“I enjoy training, constantly becoming stronger”

“Super cool, a hand bike!”

Being a high-performance athlete means absolute dedication to me. Both in practices and in everything around it. Before Rio 2016, I was in a height tent three times for a period of four weeks. Twelve to sixteen hours a day. My girlfriend thought it was not ideal. And it was quite boring at times. Before Tokyo, I practiced quite a lot in a climate chamber to get used to the extreme temperatures there. The temperature in Tokyo turned out to be all right in the end, but I was well-prepared. I do what it takes to deliver maximum performance. Making choices is part of it. This means no celebrations and parties. And with COVID-19, I did not want to run any risk to be infected by the virus. Thus, your loved-ones will have to cooperate. It requires a lot from them. Now, just after the Paralympic Games, I have the time to be relaxed and to do things together.

Tokyo felt as one race. The goal was winning three gold medals. I succeeded. I was happy and relieved. You have to prove yourself. I am proud as well. Not so much of myself, but even more of all the people around me. They assisted me to arrive at the start in a perfect shape. Of course, it is wonderful to cross the finish line alone, but only whilst realizing that we did it all together. The races themselves not necessarily determine the beauty of being a high-performance athlete. I enjoy training, constantly becoming stronger. I went to Italy and Namibia for a high-altitude training. Then, you practice together with other high-performance athletes amidst the beautiful environment. I think this life is super cool. I will continue for a while. I will quit after Paris 2024. I just have to find a spark as regards which I do everything it takes. The spark for Tokyo was three gold medals. I don’t have anything yet as of now, but it will come.

I regularly visit rehabilitation centers in addition to sports. I am an ambassador for Move Forward, an initiative to get people with a disability moving. I tell them who I am, what I have done and how I started hand biking. A training is often included as well. Then I bring along several hand bikes and people can familiarize themselves with it. It is cool to observe how they open their eyes: Wow, there are truly cool things I can do, even though I am in a wheelchair. They experience a new sense of freedom. It would be great if hand biking became more accessible and better known. What I understand after Tokyo is that cyclists complimented hand bikers quite often with the following words: ‘Super cool, a hand bike! Now I see a real one.’ That is a start. You can make the difference as a high-performance athlete, no matter how small the difference is. I do this with great joy. Additionally, I have been an advocate for the Healthy Generation recently. It is wonderful to contribute to this initiative together with other high-performance athletes.

I am not sure what will happen upon completion of my high-performance career. In the past, I wanted to become a prosthetist. I experienced myself what could all go wrong, and I wanted to improve that. High-performance sport came in between. I dream about my own academy, with young talents whom I can help. Not so much with financial means, but especially with my experience. That I can show them how I handled things, both in sports, giving clinics, dealing with the media, being a high-performance athlete. It still has to be shaped and formed, but I am heading in that direction. I do not want to be one of the very many ships which sails in the same direction as all the other ships. It truly has to add something to everything that has already been developed. Either way, it does not matter to me.”

the profession of the high-performancea athlete

“When high-performance sport comes to an end, then who are you?”

Marloes Keetels

Marloes Keetels is a high-performance hockey player in the absolute top of hockey. The hockey player, 28 years old, of the Dutch national ladies team and HC Den Bosch, has already acquired the gold and silver Olympic medals, two world championships and three European championships. It goes without saying that the most recent highlight was the gold medal in Tokyo. So, no lack of success. And can you imagine that this hockey player from the province of Brabant also studied Business Administration at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam on top of this? Impressive, because high-performance sport is a fulltime job in itself. A profession that requires a lot, but which has already brought Marloes a lot from a personal perspective as well. “In high-performance sport, and especially in a team sport, you have to communicate intensively with a large variety of personalities. Nearly all the times under pressure. This is why I developed my people skills well. I will also benefit from this at a later stage in my life.”

“The Tokyo Olympic Games were amazing, despite the special circumstances. As a team, we were glad first and foremost that the Games actually took place in the end. We had been preparing for such a long time and we were ready to perform. The result was wonderful, but we also had quite some fun there as well. Of course, the preparations for the Games have been different from useful preparations. But if I just look at our team, then everything was a match. We had been preparing for the Olympic Games for five years and everything worked as it should work. Our game system, how we wanted to attack and defend, how we would carry out our penalties. We performed the way we wanted. Resulting in the gold medal.

“No matter how wonderful it is, being a high-performance athlete truly is a profession”

It is quite rewarding, even though high-performance sports does not solely involve gaining prizes for me. It may sound like a truism, but I can combine my passion and work every day. Personally, I consider this the most beautiful aspect of my profession as a high-performance athlete. Who can actually say this? That you not only do something with so much fun and that you are passionate about it, but that you are also talented in such a way that you may practice this sport at a high level every day. That is unique about a ‘high-performance sport career’. Because, no matter how wonderful it is, it truly is a profession. This is why I appreciate the support we receive in this respect, from TeamNL and the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. For instance, with the stipend: a surplus to any other income, so that we can make both ends meet. And more and more assistance has been provided in the last years with regard to a profession upon completion of the high-performance sport career, for instance via TeamNL@work.

At present, I find it difficult to predict if and how high-performance sport would work out together with a societal career. Of course, I combined an educational program with high-performance sport during my studies, and it did not happen just like that. I had to learn this along the way. When I just started, I enrolled for all courses in a trimester. If four courses were given, then I wanted to pass all four courses. Then, I would face personal barriers at times. You use every spare half hour in addition to hockey. I did not manage to continue this, even though it did feel quite good when I successfully passed all courses indeed. I had to learn how to schedule my studies. If a period started in which I had to perform in sport, then I would only follow one course, for instance. And when a period started where the performance in sport was less demanding, then I could follow two or three courses. In the end, I partly wrote my thesis during the preparations for Tokyo. That was difficult at times, but I liked the combination of studying and physical exercise very much at the same time. And I like studying a lot, which helps of course.

What will I be doing in ten years from now? Never say never, but I don’t think that I will quickly return to hockey upon completion of my active sports career. I rather view myself in a company where I can work on strategy, situation analysis and policymaking. And then with a focus on the process, the internal cooperation. I am convinced indeed that I will benefit quite a lot from what I learn and what I have learned during my career as a high-performance athlete. Especially in the field of cooperation. For me, as a hockey player, that is the essence of what I do every day: working together in a team to achieve the best result. And that involves many different aspects. You have to cooperate with a large variety of personalities, cooperate under pressure and quickly reach decisions. Whilst everyone responds differently under pressure. Then, it is of eminent importance how you work together, that you can understand the other and that you are a good listener. I truly learned this on and around the hockey field.

Right now, I participate in the group program TeamNL@work | Get to know yourself. It focuses first and foremost on the question who you are as a person. Very many people in my surroundings know me and my qualities as an athlete. But if you are no longer a high-performance athlete, then who are you? Which qualities do you have and how can you use these in your next career? And which caveats present themselves for high-performance athletes in particular? These kinds of questions are discussed. The program forces you to think about yourself and what you would want to do in addition to or upon completion of your high-performance sport. It proves very useful to me.

I would like to give the following advice to every high-performance athlete: find out how you feel happy with yourself as a person. An education in addition to your sports career is a possibility, but you don’t have to do that. You may want to practice sports and nothing but sports for a couple of years and start a study program at a later stage. Give yourself a break to find out what works best for you. The sport may require your entire devotion and that is wonderful. Enjoy that as well. But bear in mind who you are in addition to being a high-performance athlete. Because high-performance sport is wonderful, but it will eventually come to an end. Be aware of that.”

“Be aware of the fact: high-performance sport is wonderful, but it will end as well”

the profession of the high-performancea athlete