When asked about the toughest mental challenge of the year, I’ve always pointed to our national trials. It’s a day where, as a professional athlete, it often feels like you’re fighting against the odds. The weather seldom cooperates, making it difficult to achieve exceptional times. Winning is expected, while losing can bring consequences.

However, this year, I’m reflecting with a sense of accomplishment. Securing victories in both the K1 and K2 500m events was crucial, which I delivered. Yet, even in success, there’s room for improvement.

On a personal level, I’m still working to adopt the racer’s mindset fully. It typically takes a few races for me to settle into that zone. With doing some more race pace sessions and competing in warmer conditions I am optimistic that my personal performance and the K2 team performance will improve.

As we await the official selection, our focus shifts to preparing for the European Olympic Qualification event on May 8th. I’m filled with confidence that we can secure a favorable outcome. The real challenge ahead lies in maintaining a sense of calm and composure in the weeks leading up to it.

Our task now is to meticulously prepare ourselves both mentally and physically, ensuring we’re in the best possible condition for the event. It’s about finding the optimal balance between dreaming big and staying grounded, between visualizing success and staying focused on the daily steps needed to achieve it.

Bram Sikkens