Mariska Beijer

MARISKA BEIJER

Basketball
Mariska Beijer
"“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” - Wayne Gretzky "
#TeamSunrise

RISING UP THE LEAGUES

After a few years playing for my local club and rising up the leagues I was invited to train with the Women’s National Team. My first year was the year of 2008, didn’t make the final team, but I knew that I would play in the Paralympics. I was going to make sure of that. 4 years later, I entered the London 2012 Games as a starter and our team won the bronze medal! Fast forward another 6 years and we won the World Championship title for the first time in TeamNL's history!

Besides these succeses the sport gave me friendship all around the world, the chance to study in the US, meet lifetime friends and currently play professionally in Hannover, Germany.

#TeamSunrise

THE DOORS OPENED TO SPORTS

After 2 freak accidents I ended up with an amputation of my right foot, and nerve + lymph damage in my left leg. From a young age I was very sick, from battling cancer to learning to navigate my life with allergies, asthma and eczema.

As a kid I had low self esteem, I was sick very frequently and had no physical outlet. Starting from age 11 my doors opened to sports, I started with badminton but missed something. This something turned out to be a bouncing basketball, clashing wheelchairs and the physical elegance of wheelchair basketball. With the start of my basketball career came besides getting fitter, also the start of getting confidence in what I can do.

"Basketball gave me confidence to face the day head on, looking forward to the next practice or game. I can not imagine my life without basketball."
My sports wheelchair
"Lightweight, sturdy, amazing control: the RGK Elite is truly the best chair I have ever had. "
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Road to Glory