At 13, I had to quit my elite gymnastics career. Gymnastics was my world, and my identity. Spending 23 hours a week in a gym, practising in a world which felt separate from the normal world… When I quit, I felt completely lost. I didn’t know how to behave and understand the normal world. I felt misunderstood and stuck. I tried absolutely everything. I’ve felt the confusion and the frustration. I’ve walked through change without a map, and I’ve learned what does work, the hard way.
Eventually, I got through, and this is where my life coaching program, ‘Dream Life Designers’ and podcast were born. I combine my background in elite sports, teaching, and coaching to guide you through change in a hands-on way. You’ll hear real stories, get personal support, and finally see how all the pieces connect.
Elite gymnast. PE teacher. Life Coach.
Sports have always been a central part of my life. I spent my early years as an elite gymnast, learning what it means to push limits, stay disciplined, reach goals and face both accomplishments and setbacks.
When it was time for me to choose my education, the choice wasn’t difficult. I wanted to be a Physical Education Teacher at both primary and secondary school/high school. I wanted to share my knowledge about sports with the children, I thought. Prepare them for life ahead through playing sports. And most of all, teach them to have fun.
When I graduated with a bachelor’s degree as a Physical Education Teacher, I decided to continue my studies with a master’s in Human Movement Sciences. Not because I didn’t love teaching, but because I was curious about the mechanical and science side of the human body and physical performance. How the mind plays a part in physical performance. How to teach children the beauty of sports and prepare them for life through playing sports.
What stuck with me was the mental and emotional side of performance: mindset, identity, emotion, and motivation, and how we handle pressure. How each mind responds differently to successes and failures. How we keep showing up, or don’t, when things feel hard. And how goal-setting can influence our mindset and how we perceive challenges.
This knowledge, combined with my own experience, is what led me into life coaching.
What I stand for as a coach.
Throughout my journey, which started as an elite gymnast. To not know who I was without gymnastics. Struggles that lasted years of discovering the true me, finding my voice, and starting to live the life I want. It all made me into the person, the life coach, I am today. These experiences have formed me as a human being and have also formed my why. Reasons which are very important to me and are the reason why I do what I do.
- Share stories: I’ve read a lot of stories since I quit my elite gymnastics career. Stories about other elite athletes and how they dealt with their loss of identity, loss of structure, loss of their comfort zone within the sport, and more. By reading and listening to those stories, I felt less alone, understood, and inspired. This is the reason I started my podcast, The Normal World, which ultimately led to creating my life coaching program. I want to give you the stories I did not have when I quit my elite career.
- Share my knowledge and experience: My journey was a tough one, and I hit many setbacks or obstacles along the way. In hindsight, there were some bumps that I didn’t necessarily have to hit, with the right guidance. I want to give you the guidance I missed during my journey.
- Help others: Throughout my time as a PE teacher and coaching colleagues, trainees and students in my professional career, I’ve learned that the most beautiful part of coaching for me is seeing others grow over time. Coaching is not always about giving advice, but also listening, observing and asking questions. For you to be able to grow.
Are we a match?
- Do you want to get clarity on your goals and dreams?
- Are you ready to create a path that feels both practical and true to you?
- Are you open to discovering how your mind can support you in making meaningful progress?
