Most memorable sporting moment?

Working trackside at the London 2012 Olympics when Usain Bolt sealed gold for Jamaica in the 4×100 m relay final. However, watching Richard Krajicek win Wimbledon comes a very close second!

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Fondest career memory?

Starting to work for the Dutch Tennis Federation on 1 April 1990 was a dream come true—a job I have now held for 28 years.

If someone were to write a hashtag about you, what would it be?

#readyforachallenge

#alwayscheerful

#tennisdoc

Average weekday morning?

My work is very varied, so I do not follow the same routine every day, but I do like a cup of tea with the newspaper every morning!

How have you aimed to contribute to the field of sport and exercise medicine?

My goal has been to extend scientific rigour to tennis medicine globally (to make it more evidence based) and to promote the health benefits of tennis to clinicians and the general public.

Who is your hero?

My number one hero and the most important person in my life is my mom, a really kind, modest and wise person. She encouraged me to follow my dreams and play the sports I loved, which included getting a black belt in judo and trying the tennis circuit in the US. She fully supported me in all my endeavours to pursue a career in sports medicine, even though the specialty did not yet exist in those days, and I love her dearly.

Skill that’s served you the most in your career?

Determination

Best ‘career move’?

When I was in my fifth year of high school, I was offered the opportunity to apply for a scholarship in the USA. I signed up for it, not really knowing what it all entailed, but it sounded exciting. I passed all the tests, got the scholarship and had one of the best years of my life! I was a Jayhawk freshman at Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas, where my Swedish aunt and American uncle lived. I lived in a scholarship hall with 50 other girls, where I had to sweep the stairs and clean the refrigerator to keep the costs down. I took English 101, Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology, but also Photography, North American Indian History, Women’s Gymnastics and a subject called Speech, Communication and Human Relations. It was a wonderful experience and broadened my view of life. I adjusted to a new culture and the ‘phone duty’ of the scholarship hall helped me overcome my shyness on the phone. I played lots of tennis and other sports, improved my English and got to meet lots of new people. After that I knew for sure that I wanted to become a sports physician, even though the profession did not yet exist in the Netherlands. Being comfortable in English has served me very well—I can’t encourage that enough.

Most memorable travel experience?

My most memorable travel experience was a 2-week hike with a friend in Nepal. The beauty of simply walking through the nature and mountains was incredible, Zen-like.

My most awkward travel experience was when I was in a plane, travelling from Singapore to Melbourne, and they called for a doctor. It turned out that a tiny male from India wanted to open the door and jump out of the plane, because he wanted to go back home. Psychiatry on the fly! I asked his son what they had done on the first leg of the flight, from Delhi. He said ‘we just held him’, so that was what we did! The pilot came, to see whether the situation was under control, otherwise he would turn back to Singapore. We reassured the pilot we had it under control, and I spent the rest of the flight to Melbourne as a bodyguard. I have never been more relieved to feel the wheels touch the tarmac.

Bucket list success?

Definitely, the New York Marathon in 2004. I started training with a group of doctors in January and ran it in September. It was a lifetime experience and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Best career advice for upcoming sports medicine professionals?

Gain as much experience at low level events as you can, so you understand the sports from the grass roots up. You learn from every sporting experience, regardless of the level of competition.

Favourite movie?

‘To Sir, with Love’, starring Sidney Poitier. It was just so great to see the teacher win over the class with all these social and racial issues in his calm and respectful manner, and never give up on them. (And resonating today, the first black actor to win an Academy Award.)

Favourite physical activity?

Running with the firemen on Sunday morning.

Have you ever felt like you’ve ‘made it’?

It was in 2008, just before the start of my PhD defence on the athlete’s heart. I was standing at the lectern in the Senate room of the University of Leiden, and the room was filling up with family, friends and colleagues. My parents were sitting at the front, and there was a bit of time before the ‘opposition’ would arrive. Instead of feeling nervous, I just felt incredibly happy, and smiled and waved at everybody in the audience! It was a fabulous day☺.

Average amount of sleep on a Tuesday night?

Depends whether I have an BJSM editorial board conference call that night or not, including Australia, Canada and the Netherlands on the same call! Generally 8 ☺.

How do you relax?

Walking in the beautiful forest and fields of heather in my home town of Ede.

Endurance or strength training?

Endurance, but I have recently included more strength training in my programme.

Life mantra?

Work hard, dream big and stay positive!

Inside Track is curated by Johann Windt, a member of the BJSM editorial team. It pays homage to BMJ Confidential, a terrific series in the BMJ. Feel free to nominate a colleague if you want to contribute to our community.