Robin’s development as an athlete went smoothly, but as a full-time athlete, his professional career was on hold. His transition from athletics to sitting volleyball involved studying and eventually starting his own business. Robin began working as a personal trainer and bootcamp instructor. His business quickly became successful, and he now combines entrepreneurship with elite sport.
Robin as a Speaker
Robin is an inspiring speaker who uses his personal story to show how perseverance, adaptability, and a positive mindset can help overcome even the toughest challenges. His journey from a teenager who survived bone cancer to a Paralympic athlete and successful entrepreneur resonates with and motivates audiences. Robin translates his experiences into powerful insights and tailors his story to themes such as sport, health, vitality, and resilience. He inspires his audience with a message of hope, showing that growth and success are possible even in the most challenging circumstances.
His Story
Robin’s story is both inspiring and motivating. As a teenager, he faced death and survived bone cancer. He endured chemotherapy that left him completely bald and physically shattered, lost a leg, became infertile, and was unrecognizable. He had to rehabilitate among the elderly with the goal of rejoining his able-bodied football team. When he was discharged, he could barely walk from one place to another, which was far from enough. He eventually followed an incredible athletic path from his local football team to the Dutch Paralympic Athletics Team. Robin trained full-time at Papendal for five years, giving everything he had. After repeated injuries to his stump, he switched to a sport that would protect it: sitting volleyball. Since 2017, he has been a member of the Dutch Paralympic Sitting Volleyball Team.
The happiest news came in 2023. After being infertile following chemotherapy, Robin became a father to his daughter Nora. A small miracle that fits perfectly into his positive story about overcoming setbacks, setting goals, and maintaining a positive mindset.
The Common Thread
What happened to Robin at a young age forms the common thread of his story. He adapts his presentation to the client’s needs, focusing on perseverance, adaptability, dealing with setbacks, sport, health, or vitality.
