Breakthrough Performance at World Aquatics Masters Championships - Singapore

Last August, I stood on the blocks in Singapore, fulfilling a wild dream by finishing 9th in the world in the 200m breaststroke for the 45-49 age category with a time of 2:52.22 - a remarkable 12-second improvement from my previous personal best. Personal Records Across All Events The competition yielded personal records in every individual event: • 100m Breaststroke: 1:19.71 - 20th worldwide • 50m Butterfly: 32.54 - 54th worldwide • 200m Breaststroke: 2:52.22 - 9th worldwide • 50m Breaststroke: 34.67 - 24th worldwide Historic Achievement for Zwemvereniging Sassenheim Together with my teammates from Zwemvereniging Sassenheim, we made club history by competing in the first-ever relay teams at a World Championships in the club's 60-year existence. We finished 18th and 19th in the world in our age category (200-239) in both the mixed freestyle relay and mixed medley relay. Journey from Recovery to World-Class Performance This achievement came just 15 months after TFCC right wrist arthroscopy in May 2024. The path from surgery through rehabilitation to standing on the world stage was made possible through structured training, expert support from my coaching team - particularly Frank van Nobelen, who believed in the "crazy dream" of reaching Top 10 and crafted every training session to make it possible - and the unwavering belief and dedication of my wife Luciana, coach, manager, and biggest supporter, who was there for every training session, every doubt, and every triumph.