Evelyn van Leeuwen facts for kids
van Leeuwen receiving tribute in 2016
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 May 1972 |
| Height | 171 cm |
| Weight | 60 kg |
| Sport | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sport | Women's Wheelchair Basketball |
| Disability | paraplegic |
Evelyn van Leeuwen was born on May 15, 1972, in the Netherlands. She is a talented Dutch wheelchair basketball player. She has competed in four Paralympic Games from 1996 to 2016. Evelyn won a silver medal in 1996 and a bronze medal in 2016.
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Evelyn's Sports Journey
Evelyn loved speed skating when she was younger. She competed at a low level. When she was 18, she had an accident during a competition. There was no proper safety barrier. This accident caused her to become paraplegic, meaning she could not move her lower body.
After two years of getting better, Evelyn wanted to play sports again. She found wheelchair basketball. She contacted the national coach and soon joined the national team.
Playing Professionally
In 2000, Evelyn became a professional player. She played in Badajoz, Spain, while doing research there. She joined a men's team and played with them for a year. She also competed in the 2000 Summer Paralympics and the 2004 Summer Paralympics.
Evelyn also played in the 2014 Women's World Wheelchair Basketball Championship. She could not compete in the 2008 and 2012 Paralympics because she was pregnant.
Balancing Career and Sport
When Evelyn first started playing wheelchair basketball, she was studying medicine. Later, she worked as a general practitioner, which is a family doctor. In 2012, she became a paediatrician, a doctor for children. This allowed her to work part-time.
In 2016, Evelyn returned to the national team. She helped her team win a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio. She was the oldest player on the team, but two other players were also in their 40s.
Evelyn's Family Life
Evelyn van Leeuwen is married to Jeroen Straathof. He is also a famous athlete who competed in both the Olympics and Paralympics. They have four daughters. Evelyn made sure to put her daughters first while they were growing up.
Over time, Evelyn has learned to ride a bicycle. She can also walk with the help of crutches.
