Biography
Impairment information
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Classification
T54
Further personal information
Family
Wife Cecile
Residence
Dinther, NED
Occupation
Athlete, Engineer, Information Technology
Languages
Dutch, English, German
Higher education
Computer Science - Saxion University of Applied Sciences: Enschede, NED
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He took up wheelchair racing in 1994 in Zwolle, Netherlands.
Why this sport?
He played wheelchair basketball before switching to Para athletics. "I was fast playing wheelchair basketball, but I did not have good control over the basketball itself. So wheelchair racing was a logical step."
Club / Team
Eindhoven Atletiek: Netherlands
International debut
Year
1998
Competing for
Netherlands
Tournament
World Championships
Location
Birmingham, ENG
General interest
Nicknames
The Flying Dutchman (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
Hobbies
Computer programming, watching television. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning gold in the T54 400m at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
Most influential person in career
His parents. (Athlete, 16 Jul 2017)
Hero / Idol
Dutch wheelchair racer Iwan van Breemen, Dutch wheelchair tennis player Esther Vergeer, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. (paralympic.org, 12 Jul 2015; NPC Media Guide, 20 Oct 2015)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Respect your opponents, have fun, and be the best you can be." (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
Awards and honours
In 2017 he was named an Honorary Citizen of the North Brabant province in the Netherlands. (bd.nl, 14 Mar 2017)
He was named the 2014 Para Athlete of the Year by the Dutch Athletics Federation. (atletiekunie.nl, 22 Jan 2015)
He was named the 2006 Sportsman of the Year in Enschede, Netherlands. (sax.nu, 07 Feb 2007)
He was named the 2004 Para Athlete of the Year by Dutch broadcaster NOS. (intermobiel.com, 12 Mar 2010)
In 2004 he was named Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion in recognition of his achievements at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. (volkskrant.nl, 30 Sep 2004)
He was presented with the 2003 Para Athlete of the Year Award in Brabant, Netherlands. (eindhoven.gezien.nl, 20 Dec 2013)
He was named the 2014 Para Athlete of the Year by the Dutch Athletics Federation. (atletiekunie.nl, 22 Jan 2015)
He was named the 2006 Sportsman of the Year in Enschede, Netherlands. (sax.nu, 07 Feb 2007)
He was named the 2004 Para Athlete of the Year by Dutch broadcaster NOS. (intermobiel.com, 12 Mar 2010)
In 2004 he was named Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion in recognition of his achievements at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. (volkskrant.nl, 30 Sep 2004)
He was presented with the 2003 Para Athlete of the Year Award in Brabant, Netherlands. (eindhoven.gezien.nl, 20 Dec 2013)
Other sports
He has played wheelchair basketball at an elite level. (readytosport.nl, 24 Oct 2018)
Ambitions
To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
Impairment
He was born with a condition that affects the muscle strength in his legs. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
Other information
OCCUPATION
He works as a software engineer for the Dutch police service. (Facebook profile, 23 Oct 2020; LinkedIn profile, 01 Jan 2020)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as an ambassador for the Fonds Gehandicaptensport [Disabled Sports Fund] in the Netherlands. (fondsgehandicaptensport.nl, 2016)
He works as a software engineer for the Dutch police service. (Facebook profile, 23 Oct 2020; LinkedIn profile, 01 Jan 2020)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as an ambassador for the Fonds Gehandicaptensport [Disabled Sports Fund] in the Netherlands. (fondsgehandicaptensport.nl, 2016)
Results
Unit | Date | Rank |
---|
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 200 m T55 | Heat 1 | 4 | ||
Men's 200 m T55 | Heat 2 | 3 | ||
Men's 200 m T55 | Final Round | 8 | ||
Men's 400 m T55 | Heat 3 | 3 | ||
Men's 400 m T55 | Heat 1 | 8 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 400 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
Men's 400 m T54 | Heat 3 | 1 | ||
Men's 200 m T54 | Final Round | 2 | ||
Men's 100 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
Men's 100 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
Men's 100 m T54 | Final Round | 3 | ||
Men's 200 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 100 m T54 | Heat 3 | 1 | ||
Men's 100 m T54 | Heat 1 | 2 | ||
Men's 100 m T54 | Final Round | 2 | ||
Men's 200 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
Men's 200 m T54 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
Men's 200 m T54 | Final Round | 1 | ||
Men's 400 m T54 | Heat 2 | 7 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 100 m T54 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
Men's 100 m T54 | Final Round | 5 | ||
Men's 200 m T54 | Heat 2 | 2 | ||
Men's 200 m T54 | Final Round | 4 | ||
Men's 400 m T54 | Heat 1 | 3 | ||
Men's 400 m T54 | Heat 2 | 2 | ||
Men's 400 m T54 | Final Round | 7 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 100 m T54 | Heat 1 | 4 | ||
Men's 100 m T54 | Final Round | 5 | ||
Men's 200 m T54 | Heat 1 | 3 | ||
Men's 200 m T54 | Final Round | 6 | ||
Men's 400 m T54 | Heat 2 | 5 | ||
Men's 400 m T54 | Heat 1 | 8 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's Marathon T54 | Final Round | 9999 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 100 m T54 | Heat 4 | 2011-01-22 | 1 | |
Men's 100 m T54 | Semifinal 2 | 2011-01-22 | 1 | |
Men's 100 m T54 | Final | 2011-01-23 | 3 | |
Men's 200 m T54 | Heat 4 | 2011-01-24 | 1 | |
Men's 200 m T54 | Semifinal 2 | 2011-01-25 | 1 | |
Men's 200 m T54 | Final | 2011-01-26 | 4 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 100 m T54 | Heat 1 | 2012-09-01 | 3 | |
Men's 100 m T54 | Final Round | 2012-09-02 | 8 | |
Men's 400 m T54 | Heat 2 | 2012-09-05 | 2 | |
Men's 400 m T54 | Final Round | 2012-09-07 | 2 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 400 m T54 | Final 1 | 2013-07-21 | 3 | |
Men's 400 m T54 | Semifinal 1 | 2013-07-21 | 6 | |
Men's 200 m T54 | Semifinal 3 | 2013-07-23 | 1 | |
Men's 200 m T54 | Final 1 | 2013-07-24 | 1 | |
Men's 100 m T54 | Semifinal 2 | 2013-07-25 | 2 | |
Men's 100 m T54 | Final 1 | 2013-07-26 | 2 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 200 m T54 | Final 1 | 2015-10-22 | 1 | |
Men's 200 m T54 | Heat 1 | 2015-10-22 | 2 | |
Men's 1500 m T54 | Heat 2 | 2015-10-23 | 23 | |
Men's 100 m T54 | Heat 2 | 2015-10-25 | 4 | |
Men's 100 m T54 | Final 1 | 2015-10-25 | 3 | |
Men's 400 m T54 | Heat 1 | 2015-10-27 | 4 | |
Men's 400 m T54 | Final 1 | 2015-10-27 | 3 | |
Men's 800 m T54 | Heat 4 | 2015-10-28 | 5 | |
Men's 800 m T54 | Semifinal 2 | 2015-10-29 | 4 | |
Men's 800 m T54 | Final 1 | 2015-10-29 | 2 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 400 m T54 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-11 | 2 | |
Men's 400 m T54 | Final Round | 2016-09-12 | 1 | |
Men's 1500 m T54 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-12 | 4 | |
Men's 800 m T54 | Heat 2 | 2016-09-14 | 2 | |
Men's 800 m T54 | Final Round | 2016-09-15 | 7 | |
Men's 100 m T54 | Heat 2 | 2016-09-16 | 2 | |
Men's 100 m T54 | Final Round | 2016-09-17 | 3 |
Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Men's 100 m T54 | Heat 1 | 2017-07-14 | 3 | |
Men's 100 m T54 | Final 1 | 2017-07-14 | 3 | |
Men's 1500 m T54 | Heat 1 | 2017-07-16 | 19 | |
Men's 800 m T54 | Heat 1 | 2017-07-17 | 10 | |
Men's 200 m T54 | Heat 2 | 2017-07-18 | 2 | |
Men's 200 m T54 | Final 1 | 2017-07-18 | 2 | |
Men's 400 m T54 | Heat 1 | 2017-07-19 | 6 | |
Men's 400 m T54 | Final 1 | 2017-07-20 | 2 |