Become a top athlete. Patricia Klink-Jansen is experiencing it with her own daughter. He wants to become a top athlete and will do anything for it. Patricia takes us into their world.
The decision is made. Accepted. Relief and tension at the same time. Even more with us than with my daughter. Going completely for her passion, she calls it herself, so in fact she wants to become a top athlete. More training, a higher level, a different school. They are all new exciting phases. I find it especially exciting after a first year of secondary education in which she had a difficult time. The incomprehension when she jumps on her bike right after school and goes home quickly because "I have to train". Don't linger in the center like the rest of the freshmen.
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We know that Acrogym is her passion. That she's pretty good too. But we as parents did not see this coming. She has been doing acrogym since she was 7 years old and before that she was doing gymnastics. I had never heard of it myself, but after a trial lesson from my daughter, I am convinced that this branch of sport is great fun. And not just me 😉 . Acrogym is a sport in which you show elements with two or three people, such as throwing somersaults with your partner and beautiful balance elements.
I think she's sporty on both sides. Her father played tennis at a good level and was also good at volleyball. Two of my sisters and a brother were gymnastics at a high level. She certainly doesn't get it from me. Not that I can't, but I've always seen how much you had to let go. I especially noticed that. So I did everything as a hobby and I thought that was fine. I have my own qualities shall I say 🙂 .
She is now about 7 years later as an athlete and as a person she has grown enormously. After 5 years as a “top” (upper partner) she is now doing well as a lower partner. After the last season in our own city at the local club, her trio fell apart. What now? The season was fantastic. She has achieved the highest attainable level for her as a top partner. Highlights were a sports trip to Geneva where they placed 4th at the Giac (Geneva international acrogymnastics cup). And the Dutch National Championships in Ahoy Rotterdam where they became 3rd was fantastic.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. Suddenly a 'talent wanted' message came by from another association on Facebook. We took for granted that it was more than a 45-minute drive. After a trial period over the holidays, it turned out that they had no suitable sub-partners for her. She was at the (for her) highest achievable level. The question arose whether she wanted to stay because they really appreciated her hard work and perseverance. And whether she wanted to become an under-partner.
Where I was especially skeptical, my daughter turned out to be wildly enthusiastic. I saw bears on the road, but she mainly saw opportunities. She could already imagine becoming a top athlete. We discussed a lot together. How are we going to do this? With two other children who exercise twice a week, your work and the daily things such as shopping and cooking. How do you plan to drive more than 45 minutes there and back three times during the week?
The realization that this is going to be very heavy slowly sinks in. Not only for us, but also for Loren. Just started secondary education and immediately be labeled as different . But she is very serious and gives 100% commitment to her sport.
For us it's mostly planning. Who brings? Who gets? Who does what at home? Our middle one has a dysfunction that makes her tired faster and less agile. She is always in pain and is in the middle of all kinds of investigations during this period. In Nijmegen. Intense to see how one only climbs in level and the other actually deteriorates physically every year.
We must also ensure that the eldest does not receive all the attention. Three times during the week and once in the weekend it revolves around her sport, her training and her matches. Fortunately, the middle one is very proud of her sister. She is her biggest fan. our youngest doesn't care much. She is not waiting for all the car rides. In addition, she also quickly gets carsick. How the hell are you going to sort this out? As parents you want to do well for all three. One on football, one on hip-hop and one on acro. Is that quite difficult. And then I haven't mentioned the swimming lesson yet 😛 . It sometimes does not benefit the atmosphere.
In the end we decide -because of time constraints- that daddy will drive. Twice a week from work and on Saturday mornings. There he sits three times a week waiting for the training sessions in the stands. They don't come home until late in the evening. Eat and go to bed.
You both seem to lead completely different lives. Completely next to each other. But we think we should give her that chance. She's doing so well. She is second in her level at the Dutch National Championships. How handsome after all those changes!
She quickly asks whether the CSE (Center for Sports &Education in Zwolle*) is not something for her. Athletes at her club also combine school and sports. Also want to become a top athlete. More training hours, close to the club and opportunities for a higher level. After some conversations, Loren appears to be eligible for this. A school full of athletes, each with their own goals.
How are we going to fill this in? Is she really the right type? You wonder about everything. On the other hand… a school full of like-minded people. Children who go for it with all their own passion. They all want to become top athletes. Cool! We have discussed all doomsday scenarios with our daughter. Degenerate parents . However, a 13-year-old only sees the benefits. She is enthusiastic and focused on sports. She really wants to become a top athlete.
It's our job to show that it's going to be very tough. Three extra training sessions in the morning at 08:00. So at 06.05 on the bike. From Rijssen to Nijverdal and then from Nijverdal by train to Zwolle. Then commute on her station bike between station, acrohal, school, acrohal, station. She saw no problem 😉 .
After the intake I understand her. The school breathes sport. From football, hockey, horseback riding, judo to acrogym. All different athletes, each with their own goal. Fantastic to see. She has to read her own written motivation letter at the intake and answer a lot of tough questions. A screening to let children go for the full 100%. The normal learning work must of course also be done.
She then signs a true top-level sports contract and promises to abide by the conditions. School times will be adjusted. Train about 3 times a week in the morning. Then take classes and do homework. The school facilitates exemption for competitions at home and abroad, where normal education cannot do this. There is sufficient guidance and you are monitored in, among other things, your growth. Pupils are taught nutrition so they know what you need to exercise so much.
They can really go anywhere with questions and they are mentally monitored closely. But also challenged. Top sport is hard work. It demands a lot from the children and of course you also have to do your homework in addition to your passion.
She finds traveling very difficult so far. Especially early on the bike and late traveling back is tough. Fortunately, a club member also travels home in the evenings, so she is not alone in the train.
For us as a family, it gives us more physical rest now. No driving back and forth. And more time together with the middle and youngest. Only now do we feel how hectic last season was.
It has become much heavier for her. More training hours, sometimes even twice a day. Travel more, come home tired, eat and then go to bed. That's her rhythm. As a parent, I am most concerned. Are you okay? Will she keep this up? Does she make new friends? Can she handle the level? Is the school work going well? Worries that perhaps every parent knows. But of course it's not nothing. She is only 13 and needs to become responsible very soon.
I think the school is fantastic. In terms of education, you can go from basic level to the highest level. You can even enroll in the second or third. Suppose you suddenly increase in level in terms of sport, you can still take the step and become a top athlete. It is beautiful, it breathes sport and there are like-minded children. They all want to reach the top in their sport. Assisted by passionate teachers who understand how that works. Who may have played sports at a high level themselves. We have every confidence in that. Is your child - for whatever reason - not reaching the top? Then it stops at this school.
Logical too. Not everyone makes it to the top. In addition, children are also changeable. One minute they want to become a top athlete and then suddenly a pilot.
In any case, our daughter is passionate about her sport. Despite being tired and having muscle aches, she has a very different expression on her face than before. She's happier. More serious about homework and more concerned with her diet. She eats better and more (thank god). She sets priorities.
Of course we are proud. But we are especially happy when she is home for a day. We -but also her sisters- see her less. Sometimes not for a day. But the days that she is there they enjoy it extra and so do we. We think this was her best choice ever and we think it's great that she is so independent.
Had such a school existed earlier, a lot of talents would probably have reached the top with that one push or that extra training. This school offers the best of both worlds. Good education at your own level and more time for training in your favorite sport. Fantastic isn't it!
*The Center for Sports &Education offers young athletes the opportunity to optimally develop their talents and thereby receive training at their own level. They can fully concentrate on their sport, while working on their lessons at the same time. In doing so, they are expertly and intensively supervised. Not only on a sporting level, but also on a personal level. (Source:website CSE).
