Greatest athletic achievement
“My greatest athletic achievement ever?” Judith laughs as she begins her story. “As a kid, I was scouted by the local swim club. Apparently, I had talent. But I always ended up with terrible stomachaches after swimming, which turned out to be from drinking too much pool water. So that Olympic dream quickly sank, but my love for swimming never left.”
So, when Judith signed up for Swim4Brains, her husband and friends weren’t all that surprised. She describes herself as someone who jumps into challenges impulsively. “When I saw Swim4Brains come along, I immediately thought: ‘Yes, I’m in.’”
The perfect combination
Judith’s motivation goes deeper than just the joy of swimming. “Last year, I was diagnosed with adenomas on my liver. Benign tumors, but with serious impact. I was exhausted, had no stamina, and felt like a 35-year-old in an old person’s body. It took a toll not just physically, but mentally too.” Now that she’s doing better, Judith decided to challenge herself on both fronts. “I wanted to feel fit again and reconnect with my old self. Swim4Brains turned out to be the perfect combination: I’m putting my body to work again, and doing it for a great cause. And the fact that I’m actually starting to see and feel the results, that’s incredibly motivating.”
Focusing on what is possible
Since January, Judith has been training intensively with the team under the guidance of coach Fabiënne. “Without her, I’d never have picked up the right technique so quickly. My body still challenges me in terms of stamina sometimes, but with the right training, I’m getting stronger. Back in January, I never thought I’d be here now, feeling this much fitter.”
The support from her team keeps her going. “We’re really doing this together. We motivate each other, plan joint training sessions and even barbecues. The team spirit is definitely there. I’m especially looking forward to cheering each other on from the support boat.”
A new awareness
Although the mission behind Swim4Brains didn’t hit close to home at first, that has changed in recent months. “After a conversation with the event organizer, I realized that everyone, directly or indirectly, has been affected by a brain disorder. In my family, someone suffered a stroke, and I know people who’ve dealt with dementia. You start talking about it more, and suddenly the topic becomes real. You realize how important good research is and I think it’s beautiful that I now get to contribute in a meaningful way as part of a team.”
Looking ahead
Assuming this year is a success, Judith is already thinking ahead to the next edition. “I hope more female colleagues join next year. I’m in a team with all tall guys, so physically I’m on a different level. Also when it comes to being open about physical challenges, I notice some differences too. But you’re capable of more than you think, and doing it together just makes it more fun!”
Yellowtail Conclusion is proud to be the main sponsor of Swim4Brains and is diving in with its own swim team. We’re being coached by the Open Water Zwemschool. Want to support Judith or Team Yellowtail Conclusion? Check out our campaign page.
