How did you end up with Team NewCold?
I used to watch skeleton on TV during the Winter Olympics. I found it an interesting sport back then, but my parents told me that it wasn't possible to do it in the Netherlands because we don't have a track here, of course. When Kimberley came third at the Winter Olympics, my dad started looking into whether I could enroll or do something related because I was in my last season of gymnastics and wanted to try something new that would give me an adrenaline rush during the sport. I also wanted a sport that required a lot of training, as I could channel my energy into that. Then, my dad told me about a test day for which he enrolled me, and that's how it all started.

What do you find the coolest about the sport you practice within Team NewCold?
The coolest thing about skeleton, I think, is that you have so much control over how smoothly you race through the track without it looking like you're doing much. And, of course, you get an enormous kick when you race through the track so quickly with your head down!

What is a unique trait/fact about yourself?
I have a lot of superstitions, so I won't list them all, but I think one standout trait on the track is that in some corners, I close my eyes to genuinely feel the curve, which gives me a better sense of when to steer.

Do you have tips for young athletes who want to be successful in skeleton?
Especially, ask your coaches about anything you don't understand or if something is unclear. They're always happy to help. And, above all, train, train, and train some more :)

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
In five years, I'll be around 22 years old. I hope to look back at my Youth Olympic Winter Games and have achieved the goals I set before that time. Furthermore, I'll be training for the real Games and will have set new goals in the meantime.

What has been your biggest achievement within Team NewCold so far?
So far, I'm happy with what I've done, but there's still a lot of potential I want to explore. Right now, I'm mainly focused on understanding the curves and correcting mistakes. And, of course, one of the most crucial aspects of sledding: the start!

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