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 (born on May 15, 1972) is a talented Dutch wheelchair basketball player. She comes from Leiden, a city in the Netherlands. Evelyn has represented her country at the Paralympic Games four times. She competed in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2016. She won a silver medal in 1996 and a bronze medal in 2016.
Contents
Evelyn's Sports Journey
Early Life and Accident
Evelyn loved sports from a young age. She was a competitive speed skater. When she was 18, she had an accident during a competition in Leiden. This accident meant she could no longer use her legs. It took her two years to recover.
Discovering Wheelchair Basketball
After her recovery, Evelyn wanted to get back into sports. She found wheelchair basketball. She contacted the national coach and soon joined the Dutch national team. This was the start of her amazing career.
Playing Professionally and Paralympics
In 2000, Evelyn played professionally in Badajoz, Spain. She joined a men's team there while doing research. She stayed for a year. Evelyn also competed in the 2000 Summer Paralympics and the 2004 Summer Paralympics. She also played in the 2014 Women's World Wheelchair Basketball Championship. She missed the 2008 and 2012 Paralympics because she was pregnant.
Balancing Sports and Career
While playing wheelchair basketball, Evelyn also studied medicine. She became a general practitioner, which is like a family doctor. Later, in 2012, she became a paediatrician. This allowed her to work part-time and continue her sports career.
Return to the Paralympics
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 at the time. Two other teammates were also in their 40s.
Personal 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 prioritize her family while her daughters were growing up. She has also learned to ride a bicycle and can walk using crutches.
