Many will consider the Olympic qualification and the first World Cup as a major disappointment, and perhaps rightly so. It’s a fact that this represents a significant step back compared to last year. From multiple A-finals last year, we’re now eliminated in the heats and stuck in the C-final. Personally, this result will also have financial implications. Currently, we are far from the set high-performance goals. Some may even argue that the level is simply too high and that reaching the top in the future is too ambitious.

But let me tell you my side of the story. After last year, continuing the project with Artuur was not feasible. To proceed with the K2 500m project, I had to find a new partner. After many trainings and tests with our promising U23 team, it became clear that Rafael Bastiaens, seven years younger and much less experienced, would be my new partner. The boat performed well, and there were moments of hope and dreams as we analyzed the data. Besides these aspects, there were other important factors for me. The past weeks have reignited my passion for training. We worked as one team towards a common goal. The youth were eager to learn from us, and vice versa. I’ve learned to enjoy the process again, to relish the moment.

The level in Szeged was high, extremely high. We pushed ourselves to the limit in every race. We identified our mistakes in each race and worked on them for the next. Every race meant personal progress. Are there still areas for improvement? Yes! But these require longer periods of training.

Additionally, I am immensely proud of my new partner. The bravery and motivation he displayed at the start of this project, how he handled the pressure on his shoulders, and the sheer professionalism he showed during the races. Was this result disappointing? Again, yes! But I am incredibly grateful for this experience and hope to have many more like it in the future.

The next step is the second World Cup in Poznan. Here, I will focus on the K1 500M.