In 2008 I worked as a spinning instructor in a gym. After a spinning lesson, I was approached by a rowing coach who was touched by my power and energy. This rowing coach challenged me to take a test on the ergometer and it immediately turned out that I had the strength and endurance required for rowing. Within a year the rowing association invited me, and I decided to grab the 'chance of a lifetime' with both hands and move to Amsterdam and commit myself full-time to my new ultimate goal: the Olympic Games.
Four years later I achieved this goal: at the London Olympics I won a bronze Olympic medal in the women's eight. In just four years, I had managed to turn my reputation as an 'inexperienced pounder' into a permanent member of the team. Drive, positive team spirit and commitment were core elements for our team.
I decided to continue rowing, but under the new coach and in a new system I no longer blossomed and grew. I got injured, and noticed for the first time that hard work was counterproductive. The boat literally only went fast when I was balanced. I have been injured almost continuously for three years. But the goal of “the Olympic Games in Rio” kept me going. In 2016 we participated in the Games and our team had to settle for sixth place. I have learned how important it is to have a common goal, to have confidence in each other, and how to express things in a team to really get to the core and the flow.
