Carina de Rooij-Versloot facts for kids
![]() Carina de Rooij in 2014
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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Born | Zaltbommel, Netherlands |
10 May 1980 ||||||||||||||||
Sport | |||||||||||||||||
Country | Netherlands | ||||||||||||||||
Sport | Women's Wheelchair Basketball | ||||||||||||||||
Disability | paraplegia | ||||||||||||||||
Disability class | 3.0 | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Carina de Rooij-Versloot was born on May 10, 1980. She is a talented Dutch wheelchair basketball player. Carina is a key member of the Netherlands women's national wheelchair basketball team. She has competed in four Paralympic Games. She has won two bronze medals and two gold medals for her country.
Contents
Carina's Journey to Wheelchair Basketball
Early Life and Injury
In 1999, Carina Versloot had an accident. She broke her back during gymnastics training. This happened at the Hellas gymnastics club in Tiel, Netherlands. Because of this injury, she developed incomplete paraplegia. This means she has some weakness or loss of movement in her lower body.
Discovering a New Sport
During her recovery, Carina went to a rehabilitation center. It was called "De Hoogsstraat" in Utrecht. There, she found wheelchair basketball. This sport quickly became a big part of her life. It allowed her to continue being an athlete.
Paralympic Achievements
Early Paralympic Games
Carina started competing in the Paralympic Games early in her career. She took part in the 2004 Summer Paralympics. She also competed in the 2008 Summer Paralympics. These experiences helped her grow as an athlete.
Winning Medals
Carina achieved her first Paralympic medal in 2012. She won a bronze medal at the 2012 Paralympics. Four years later, she won another bronze medal. This was at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. Her team continued to excel.
Gold Medal Success
Carina's hard work paid off with gold medals. She won gold at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo. Her team also won gold at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris. These victories show her dedication and skill.
Other Competitions and Roles
World Championships
Besides the Paralympics, Carina has competed in other major events. She played in the 2014 Women's World Wheelchair Basketball Championship. She also took part in the 2018 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship. These tournaments bring together the best teams globally.
Off the Court
Carina is also involved in the sport's leadership. She is a member of the Athlete Steering Committee. This committee is part of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation. In her everyday life, Carina helps young people. She works as a child and youth psychologist.