May 11th,

First two competitions of the outdoor season are passed. First was the meet in Lisse, which I won with a height of 2.10m. A disappointing result. Especially because I felt I couldn't contribute anything to enhance my performance. It felt like I was jumping with only 20% of my abilities. Frustrating to say the least. I think the main problem was me not being on top of my game. I had been feeling sick and sapped of any energy a couple of days before the meet and I probably wasn't just recovered enough to make any kind of impression.

The second meet was only yesterday. Kind of like a day - night comparison between the meet in Lisse and the one in Hoorn. Yesterday everything went very smooth. I already cleared 2.15m during the warm-up and in the meet everything up to 2.17 was cleared with room to spare. At 2.20 I had some trouble with my rhythm and I felt I was a bit low in the curve, which caused me to miss out on the height. It was however an awesome performance compared to the week before and a result on which I can improve in the next couple of weeks. I still make hardly any use of my speed. As soon as I can get the rhythm more stable I will be able to increase my approach which should make it that more easier to jump great heights. This is however something we'll need to work hard on in the next couple of meets.

March 18th,

After having had serious problems with my hamstring I was able to start jumping again a week prior to our Nationals. Not the best way to prepare, which was noticeable during the competition. I managed to jump a new season best of 2.18m, but at 2.21m I wasn't able to produce a good jump. I had no rhythm and couldn't cope with my approach speed. A sad way to end my indoor season and not the way I had imagined doing my last indoor season as a highjumper. Life goes on I guess and I soon started my preparations for the outdoor season.

I didn't start of very well because of some unexplainable problems I picked up after getting back from my hamstring problems......It isn't even possible for me to explain anymore how frustrating it is to h ave no control over these stupid physical problems. It makes no sense....so I stopped worrying about it and did the things that were possible. Thankfully things are slowly improving and I h ave been able to keep working on my jumps in the last couple of weeks. I'm getting more and more confident with my approach even thought we h ave only done short approached at a slow yet. But I need to get back the feeling first and then slowly start working on increasing my approach length and speed. Hopefully I can keep working on the things in the next couple of weeks and enjoy a great last season.

February 12th,

It has been a long while since my last post. A lot has happened these couple of months. My preparations went very smooth. Although the cold was making the last part of 2007 rough. Because my coach had left for South Africa were he and a couple of his athletes were preparing I decided that an early start of the indoor season would benefit me. I only had been able to do a limited number of jump session so I figured some early competitions would help me prepare for the better meets later on in the indoor season. My first competition brought me to Clarholz (Germany). A fabulous meet with excellent highjump conditions and a large crowd of supporters. The competition went pretty well. I had some good clearances at 2.09 and 2.15m which won me the first price. That is what I call a nice start. Regretfully I strained my hamstring on the last jump at 2.20m. A set back which cost me most of last month to recuperate from. All my hopes of getting some great heights in before February were dashed by this unfortunate event.

Last week I managed to do some jumps from a full approach which went really well considering the fact that I had been out for almost a month. This was a major boost for my confidence and it was just in time for our Nationals which are planned for this Saturday (17.15u). This being my last indoor championship and probably also my last indoor meet as a professional highjumper, will make it even more special. I still consider it a major disappointment that we haven't been able to get our Nationals back to Holland in the last couple of years. I think the athletic scene would have benefited so much more would the training and competition facilities have been better during the winter. Only the 'rich' athletes now have the benefit of going abroad and enjoying the fabulous training facilities that are available on this globe. I can say from first hand experience that everybody who stays in Holland is dealt a lesser hand and at a serious disadvantage during the indoor season and maybe even the remainder of the season. But as the saying goes you have to play the hand you are dealt Let's see on Saturday if it is good enough to add another victory to my list.

 

For a complete summary of my developments and news items you can 'click here'!

Welcome to my site which contains all kinds of information about my current undertakings, adventures, results and so on.... Apart from this, you'll also be able to find all sorts of info on the world of the highjump, ranging from in-depth analyses of my technique, movies and pictureseries to links were you'll be able to find additional info on this subject.

My first contact with athletics was at the age of nine. I enjoyed the wide variety of disciplines and the competitiveness which are embodied in this sport. At the age of seventeen I mainly focussed on the discus throw and the highjump, which might seem a strange combination. I still enjoy throwing the discus, but due to my physical stature, the highjump was more suited. That year (1992) can be described as the starting point of my career as world-class highjumper (more information about this period can be found under the history option!). It also resulted in me meeting my coach and a lot of other athletes of which some are still giving their every effort at becoming world-class athletes themselves. This unique group has always been my foundation for the results I've booked so far. The mix of a coach who has an incredible gift for analyzing motions of the body and a group of fellow-athletes who all crave the same, namely to exceed one's best, is unique and a necessary ingredient for me to achieve my goals.

On this site you can choose from a lot of different options, which are explained here shortly.

News: Contains a short description of recent events.
About me: Tells the story of my first experiences with athletics.
For the fan: Contains a postcard which can be downloaded, my personal achievements, goals, links and newspaper articles of the current season.
Pictures: Here you can find a collection of photos which were taken at various events and places (including Olympics and EC Munich).
Movies: A collection of short movies recorded during different competitions, including the Dutch Record jump. Special attention goes out to the training and competition data that is available under this option!
Diary: Short comments about recent competitions I was in. List of upcoming competitions.
Guestbook: A place were you can leave a relevant message.
Specials: My e-mail correspondence to the home crowd during my stay at the Olympics in Sydney (Dutch only!).