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Throughout my career, I’ve combined my passion for swimming, a keen interest in sports performance, and a strong educational background to develop a methodical approach to coaching and performance enhancement. Below, I’ll share the facts that have shaped my journey—my experiences in swimming, the skills I’ve developed as a coach, and the educational background that ties everything together.
I have an extensive background in competitive swimming, having participated in some of the most prestigious events in the sport. I competed in the European Junior Championships in 2011 and 2012, the European Championships from 2013 to 2021, and the World Championships in 2015 and 2016. These experiences gave me a deep understanding of international-level competition and the demands placed on top-tier athletes.
Throughout my swimming career, I set two Age Group Belgian National records at 16 years old and six open Belgian National records. Three of these records still stand today:
My ability to perform at a high level while balancing multiple responsibilities is one of the key takeaways from my swimming career. I competed at a national and international level during my high school years, university, and even while holding full-time jobs and volunteering. This taught me how to manage time effectively and prioritize different aspects of my life, a lesson I now apply in both my coaching and professional work.
As a coach, I focus on a holistic approach to performance, going beyond just swimming technique. My coaching philosophy is built on the idea that athletes need to be strong, resilient, and self-reliant in order to perform at their best.
I use a combination of tools to enhance performance:
One of the unique aspects of my coaching style is my focus on building self-reliance in athletes. I don’t believe in fostering dependency on massage therapists, physiotherapists, or other professionals. Instead, I focus on helping athletes develop their own strategies for managing injuries, recovery, and performance. This philosophy is rooted in individualized collaborative coaching, where the athlete and I work together to create a tailored plan that is focused on long-term development.
I have always had a strong interest in systems and frameworks, which is reflected in my academic background. I hold a Master of Science in Applied Economics with a focus on Financial Management & Accounting from KU Leuven. My thesis, titled "Determinants of Bank Capital Structures," was completed in 2021 in collaboration with Natan Ediev. The knowledge I gained from my master's degree has had a significant impact on my approach to performance, helping me apply principles such as risk management, trade-offs, and system optimization to human performance.
Before my master's, I completed a Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics: Business Engineering from University of Ghent. During this period, I also trained up to 30 hours per week in swimming, balancing academics with high-level athletic training. This experience taught me how to handle intense workloads, manage time efficiently, and optimize my performance both academically and athletically.
In 2024 I also optained my lifeguard degree during the intens summer course to ensure maximal safety of the people I work with.
Through my education and career, I’ve developed a broad set of skills that apply to both coaching and performance optimization:
In summary, my journey has been shaped by a combination of competitive experience, coaching expertise, and a solid academic foundation. I’ve always focused on using systems thinking and data-driven approaches to enhance performance, and I aim to bring that same level of analysis and precision to my coaching. My goal is to help athletes not just perform at their best, but to build lasting habits and strategies that ensure sustainable success.
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