Olympic athletes interviewed Episode 23: Jelle van Gorkom ‘It's impossible until it's done.’

Double Olympian and Silver Medalist at the Rio Olympics 2016 Jelle van Gorkom has suffered a severe and life-threatening accident. In spite of the accident, it’s impressive to see how Jelle’s positive spirit keeps him motivated and optimistic on the goals he has for his life.

In this interview, we discuss

·      Jelle’s worst moment

·      His best moment

·      What advice would you give his younger self

·      His success habits

·      His morning routine

·      How he prepares for important moments

·      How to overcome setbacks

·      His role model

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

·      How did a typical training day look like

·      Jelle’s interview nomination

·      Where can you find Jelle van Gorkom 

Intro: This interview features Jelle van Gorkom. Jelle is a double Olympian, and competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games, and the Rio 2016 Olympics, where he claimed the silver medal in BMX Supercross event.

Jelle’s other most notable achievements

-       runner-up in the World Champs 2015, where he was placed behind team mate Niek Kimmann

-       World Cup win in 2013 in  Papendal, Netherlands

-       And multiple podium places on different World Cups over the years

In the beginning of 2018, Jelle has suffered a severe and life-threatening accident.

For me, this interview is special, not only because I have worked with Jelle for 8 years, but also because I have been thinking about doing this ‘Olympic athletes interview series’ for a long time and I was considering, who would be the first person, that I wanted to interview. I felt it must be someone, who is close to my heart and decided to do the first interview with Jelle. One morning on the way to our training, I asked Jelle, if he would be open for an interview, and Jelle agreed. This was one day before Jelle suffered his crash.

After that, I have put off the idea idea and I didn’t start the interview series. However, at some point, I thought it was not going to help Jelle, if I didn't do the interviews and I got started. And fastforward 23 episodes later, here I am with Jelle van Gorkom, welcome, Jelle.

Jelle: Thank you. It’s nice to be here.

Jelle’s worst moment

Christian: Jelle, what was your worst moment?

Jelle: It has to be the accident I had last year.

Christian: And as an athlete?

Jelle: As an athlete, the time after the London 2012 Olympics.

Christian: I noted that down as a question to you for later as well because I remember in 2012 you went into the season very strong. You were very, very good in the first races at Chula Vista, and then you had that crash. And this crash combined with the long recovery process also meant that you, that you would not be in your best shape and not be able to bring out your best performance at the London 2012 Olympic Games. How did you recover from that accident in 2012?

Jelle: I first recovered physically, and then I had to recover mentally, because the mental recovery takes longer than the physical recovery. Because physically at some point you get to a point where you can do everything again, but mentally, it's like you get there but then at some point it stops and then if you keep going and keep pushing the mental recovery, it will eventually come back. But it takes long time to get back.

The mental recovery takes longer than the physical recovery, but if you keep going and keep pushing the mental recovery, it will eventually come back.

Christian: And now looking at the recovery process from early 2018 when you had your crash to now, everyone says they admire you for your mental strength. Has the experience of 2012 influenced helped as well?

Jelle: Of course, it helped. Because it makes you realize, that life is so much more than just sports. Because now I am in a phase that I cannot ride my bike anymore and I need to think about other goals in life.

           It makes you realize, that life is so much more than just sports.

Christian: What are these goals?

Jelle: To return to life as best as possible. And hopefully one day squat around 200kg again.

Christian: I'll be there to support you!

Jelle’s best moment

Christian: What was your best moment?

Jelle: My best moment had to be during the 2016 Olympics, not necessarily in the final, but in the races before the Olympic final.

Christian: Why is that?

Jelle: Because I felt so strong back then, that I felt like I could take on the whole world, I believed.

I felt so strong back then, I felt I could take on the whole world.

Christian: And why do you think that was?

Jelle: Because physically I was in such good shape at that point, and mentally I was prepared as much as possible to take the win home. But eventually I didn't, I came 2nd .

Physically I was in such good shape, and mentally I was prepared to take the win home. But eventually I didn't, I came 2nd .

Christian: I've noted that down as a question for a later point but I think it fits very well here. During the Olympic Games in 2016, I think from the outside most people believed, that out of the three riders that went [the other 2 were Niek Kimmann and Twan van Gendt], you had the least chances of success, but you believed in yourself. And during the event your performance was also really good. How did you do that? How did you maintain that believe and also showed it?

Jelle: I just kept believing in myself. I just pushed myself to get the best results I could get.

Christian: There was also another thing, that I had noticed when we were training and preparing for the Olympic Games in 2016. In the last phase, when we were only training with the guys that have qualified for the Olympics, I saw a change in you. Normally, you were always very present and very loud, but during this period you seemed to be more introverted and very, very focused. Do you remember that? It was kind of a switch, and for me you seemed like a different Jelle, than the one I used to know.

I kept believing in myself. I just pushed myself to get the best results I could get.

Jelle: I think it came out of the fact, that I went through the same situation four years earlier, preparing for the 2012 Olympic Games. I could place the situation I was in, and I could take the benefits out of it, so that I can perform better in the future.

Check out the full interview