Train, study, sleep, repeat With meticulous plans and iron discipline, gymnast Frank Rijken and rower Dogus Köker show demonstrate that studying and top-level sports can be combined. Text: Fenna van der Grient
Frank Rijken, gymnast “I see many similarities between CEOs and top athletes”
“W
hen I was a little boy, I used to go to the gym regularly, because my sister was a high-level gymnast. I saw the trampoline and the foam pit, and I thought: I want to train here too! When I was about nine years old, I started, and I turned out to be pretty good. I am most proud of my participation in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. It was the first time that the Dutch team qualified, that was very special. Vault and parallel bars are my favorite events. I think I have a good chance of getting European and World Championship medals for those events. I would also like to participate in the World University Games in 2021 and I am already looking forward to the Olympic Games in 2024. I train eight times a week and combine that with my studies in business economics. My passion really lies with economics, and I like the fact that this bachelor’s program is very broad. The tricky thing about the combination with gymnastics is that the big tournaments actually always fall around
exam weeks. That means you have to get very creative, and you have to be able to plan and communicate well. I don’t feel like I’m really missing out on student life; there are only a few things that I can do a little less often. I also live on my own and not in a student bunker with a lot of roommates. But I’ve been able to have fun holidays and I really can go out evenings outside of the competition period. I am very glad that I am so well supported by Tilburg University. When I first spoke to Ferenc Jongejan, the top-sports coordinator, he told me that, of course, they are bound by rules, but that with good communication we can come up with a solution for everything. Together with academic coordinator Natascha van Enckevort, we have always succeeded. The competencies I have gained in top-level
30 | New Scientist | Tilburg School of Economics and Management
BRAM BELLONI
sports I can put to good use in my studies. You learn discipline, consistency, and dealing with difficult periods and emotions. I also learned how to coach a group of younger athletes. I think that could help me in business later on. For example, I see a lot of similarities between CEOs of companies and top athletes.”
