In 2019 I started Paratriathlon top sport. My goal is not only to make it to the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, but also to win gold there.
As a child, I was born with a physical disability. I have muscle shortening from my hip to my feet. When walking it is not so noticeable, but it is when you see me running. That's because my feet are inward and I can't swing my legs back properly. It didn't stop me from always exercising a lot. As a child, I had energy for ten; I did judo, gymnastics, water polo and field hockey, all at the same time.
Paratriathlon and elite sports started as a joke. A friend who is a doctor asked me (early 2018) "Nico why don't you compete in Paratriathlon at your level. You already sport so much and perform beautiful sports." I said that I am not disabled and at first did not see anything in it.
Nevertheless, I went to a talent day at Papendal in 2018 which turned out well. My first international race for the Dutch Paratriahlon team was in Yokohama, Japan (2019) where I finished first. At my second race in Montreal I finished second. After these two races I was able to apply for my top sports status with NOC&NSF.
Since 2019 until today, I am a top athlete and I am doing everything I can to go to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and achieve gold there. Currently I am second in the Paratriathlon World Ranking in my class PTS3.
