Olympic athletes interviewed Episode 21: Rob van den Wildenberg ‘You only live once, so take the opportunities that are presented to you.’

Olympic finalist 2008 Rob van den Wildenberg, shares how getting into the best possible shape at the Olympic Games 2008 was a big relief from him, how he uses the lessons he learned as an Olympic athlete in his coaching career now, and why he believes it’s important to let athletes fail.

Furthermore we discuss

·      His darkest moment

·      His best moment

·      What advice would he give his younger self

·      What are the habits that make him a successful athlete or person

·      His morning routine

·      How to prepare for important moments

·      How to overcome setbacks

·      His role model

·      The best advice he has received and who gave it to him

·      How a typical training day look like

·      Where can people find him

·      Who he nominates to be interviewed

Intro: In this interviewed I'm joined by Rob van den Wildenberg. Rob was nominated by Merle van Benthem to be interviewed. Rob reached the Olympic finalist at the Beijing Olympics 2008 in BMX Supercross. He was a World Champion challenger at the age of 16 in BMX Supercross. Welcome, Rob.

Rob: Thank you.

Rob’s darkest moment

Christian: Rob, in your life as an athlete what was your darkest moment?

Rob: I had quite a few dark moments, but I think the darkest one was the winter before the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing. In December 2007 I was fully preparing for the Olympics at that time, when my mom got a heart stroke. So that made it difficult to set priorities, should I get out of my training routine, because I was really afraid to lose my mom. That was quite a dark moment because suddenly my dream of being an Olympic athlete, kind of felt like it was not going to happen.

I was fully preparing for the Olympics at that time, when my mom got a heart stroke.

So that was quite impactful at that time, but luckily it went well and I think it made me even stronger afterwards.

I was realizing that I have to go for the moment, the opportunities that are in your life. Luckily, a few weeks later my mom got a bit healthier and we knew she was going to make it, and that gave me the vibe to really give it all I had for the chance that was given to me.

That was kind of a dark moment, but afterwards it was like one of those moments in life that you realize you only live once and you have a few opportunities and if they are close to you, you have to embrace them and go all out to reach that goal.

Next to that, there were a few other dark moments, with all the injuries you had as an athlete. In our sport it's quite common to have injuries.

After a race in 2011, I was doubting a lot to continue. I had a broken my sternum in the crash and I was close to saying, that was enough for me and I stepped down from racing on the highest level. That was also quite a dark moment.

Christian: You became the National Coach of the development team, the Junior National team in 2011. How many riders have you delivered to the Senior National team? Niek [Kimmann], Harrie [Lavreysen], Niels Bensink, Jay Schippers, Koen van der Wijst, Justin Kimmann and Kevin van den Groenendal.

Rob: Actually quite a few riders moved up to the National team, and some switched sports and moved up to the Track Cycling National team, like Harrie and Koen.

Rob’s best moment

Christian: What was your best moment?

Rob: I had already mentioned it a bit, my best moment was competing at the Olympics 2008. I was there in the best shape. I came 5th in the Olympic final. Reaching the finals was my goal. That was my goal.

Reaching the Olympic final was my goal, and I finish 5th.

At that time, I wanted to be at the Olympics. For the first time BMX was made an Olympic sport so we didn't know what to expect. So that meant it was all new for us, but we were already working for a few years towards that goal. And I was really convinced, I did everything to reach that goal and to be at my best at the Olympic Games. And I was in my best shape, so that was kind of a relief for me. I had no pressure at all and I felt quite happy.

And I think the other athletes were a bit more stressed, I just felt really good, really comfortable. And yes, from the 3 best guys who were competing for the Netherlands in the men's event, I think I wasn't necessarily the one who should perform the best. However, I think by feeling the way that I did and with all the team around us, it made me to perform the best out of the 3 Dutch riders.

I think I wasn't the best rider from the team, but during the two days of competition, I think I was the best of them. So that felt good. I felt like, I couldn't have been done better, so I'm actually really proud of that performance from myself, even though it wasn't a medal, it felt quite good.

I think, I wasn't the best rider from the team, but during the two days of competition, I think I was the best. Everything fell into the right place at the right time.

If I look back at the time, normally I was always looking up to some riders who normally performed better. However, at the Olympics, I felt that I could show what I have and I thought I was good enough to be a top eight guy and it happened. It felt like everything fell into the right place at the right time.

Rob’s advice to his younger self

Christian: If you could travel back in time 10, 15, 20 years, what advice would you give your younger self?

Rob: If I look at it as an athlete, I think I needed a goal in my sport. I mean, there was no Olympic status for the sport at that time, so I did it, because I liked it and there was no real goal setting. I would give the advice to set some goals that you can try to achieve.

I did it, because I liked it and there was no real goal setting. I would give the advice to set goals.   

And I think that would make you become grown up grown earlier. I felt a bit dependent on my parents, what they would do, what they decided for me. It's good to set goals and also failing at achieving them will make you a better person in the future.

So yes, that would be a good advice that you should also set some goals that you want to achieve and work for it, even at a young age. This will also create moments to look back on what you did wrong, what you did correct and you can learn from them. In my time in my sport, it was just about having fun and no goals to achieve.

It's good to set goals and also failing at achieving them will make you a better person in the future.

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