{"id":87643,"date":"2018-06-06T11:50:13","date_gmt":"2018-06-06T09:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=87643"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:23:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:23:00","slug":"topsportende-tweelingzussen-strijden-samen-tegen-elkaar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/06\/06\/topsportende-tweelingzussen-strijden-samen-tegen-elkaar\/","title":{"rendered":"Top-level sporting identical twins compete together"},"content":{"rendered":"

Top-level sports, studying and \u2013 come the opportunity \u2013 a night out on the town. Identical twins Anne and Myke van de Wiel have a busier calendar than most students, but this is a conscious (joint) decision on their part.<\/p>\n

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Myke (l) and Anne van de Wiel<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGeisje van der Linden<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cLast year, we found out that in our whole life we\u2019ve only spent one full day apart,\u201d says Myke van de Wiel (20), who is one minute older than her sister Anne. \u201cBut,\u201d she hastens to say, \u201cwe think this is to be expected. We were in the same classes, share the same friends and do sports together.\u201d<\/p>\n

And sports in particular have made the ladies even more inseparable these past years. Because the sisters from Breda are seen as two of the top athletes in Dutch women\u2019s heptathlon, during which the contestants participate in seven track and field events within a single competition (further details in the boxout). They train six times a week in activities like the 100-metre hurdles, long jump and shot put. \u201cWe were pretty boisterous kids,\u201d explains Anne. \u201cWhen we were seven, an uncle whose two sons did athletics suggested to our mother that we join an athletics club. We enjoyed it so much that we\u2019re still at it today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rivalry<\/h2>

By their late teens, it had become clear that the two sisters \u2013 who practiced at the Sprint club in Breda \u2013 had more than their fair share of talent. \u201cWe never had trouble keeping up, but around 16 they assigned us to a more serious trainer. We started on a special training programme, after which things started picking up speed. Before that, we mainly trained with friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\tAnne: \u2018I\u2019d rather see my sister win than some other competitor\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

And last year, everyone could see what kind of progress they\u2019d made during the Dutch championship. Myke was just short of a podium spot, but Anne was able to take home a silver medal. \u201cBut it could just as easily have been the other way round,\u201d says Anne. \u201cThese past few years, we\u2019ve both performed at more or less the same level. One year, I do slightly better; the other, Myke. She\u2019s a slightly better sprinter, but apart from that there\u2019s not much difference between us.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Anne van de Wiel<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

The two acknowledge that there are two sides to being both family and direct competitors. Myke: \u201cIt can be really annoying. Because I enjoy it when Anne wins too \u2013 and I\u2019ve noticed this slightly affects my drive to come out tops.\u201d Anne agrees: \u201cI\u2019d rather see my sister win than some other competitor. Whether consciously or unconsciously, you always have your sister in the back of your mind. And during trainings, for example, we can help each other stay motivated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last year saw the first time this \u2018rivalry\u2019 created some minor tension between the two sisters, Myke admits. \u201cThere was only one spot left in the selection for the European Cup [the European championship for female heptathletes, Eds.] The athlete who put in the best performance during the closing competition would be allowed to join the Dutch team. Anne won this event, and I admit I had mixed feelings about this.\u201d Myke turns to her sister: \u201cOf course, I wanted you to make the team rather than someone else, but for the first few days, I remember thinking: I\u2019d prefer neither of us could go. In the end, I went to Spain to cheer her on though \u2013 and I was really proud of her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Different studies<\/h2>

There\u2019s no way the two heptathletes can avoid each other out on the track and field. So when Myke and Anne had to decide on their studies nearly two years ago, this was an ideal occasion to create a bit more distance between them for the first time ever. \u201cWe didn\u2019t want to really push the idea of choosing two different studies, but we did consciously look into different programmes,\u201d says Anne. \u201cI decided on sociology, and Myke went for psychology. We do live together: we enjoy each other\u2019s company and I wouldn\u2019t want it any other way. Although I do like the fact that now, some people know me as Anne on my own, rather than always as part of a pair.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite competing at a high level, the two second-year students are still on schedule in their studies. They plan to round off their bachelor programme next year. Anne: \u201cIt\u2019s easier to combine sports with our studies as students than when we were in secondary school. School days were far longer. Overall we have fewer obligations nowadays.\u201d And the fact that EUR has assigned the two athletes \u2018topsport<\/em>\u2019 status is also supposed to help. But the designation proves less useful in practice, notes Anne. \u201cWe benefit less from this status than people assume. When we miss 30 minutes of a seminar this is recorded as a missed session \u2013 the same as with any other student. It mainly comes in handy when you\u2019re faced with a real dilemma.\u201d Her sister agrees. \u201cI really don\u2019t ask that much. I understand that you can\u2019t miss too many components. But occasionally, it would be nice if they thought along with us a bit more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unable to choose<\/h2>
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Myke (l) and Anne van de Wiel<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGeisje van der Linden<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

For the time being, the heptathletes plan to keep combining sports, studies and student life \u2013 if only because they\u2019re unable to choose one pursuit over the other two. According to Myke, the fun and relaxation of the latter are indispensable for weathering the pressure of the other two activities. \u201cSome people may say that as a top-level athlete, you shouldn\u2019t be going out on Saturday \u2013 and drinking alcohol besides. While physically that may not be your wisest move, I couldn\u2019t survive without the distraction. You shouldn\u2019t do it before a major competition of course, but if going out is an option: Yeah, great idea!\u201d<\/p>\n

However, the biggest challenge coming up for the twins isn\u2019t in the lecture hall or out on the track: this summer will be the first time they\u2019re going on separate holidays. \u201cWe\u2019ll be apart for five days \u2013 I expect it will feel rather weird,\u201d says Anne. Her sister nods in agreement, but then starts laughing out loud. \u201cHahaha, that can\u2019t be right \u2013 we sound like some old married couple.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

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During the women\u2019s heptathlon, the contestants complete seven events: the 100-metre hurdles, shot put, high jump, 200 metres, long jump, javelin throw and 800 metres. The athletes earn points for each event: the competitor with the highest total wins.<\/p>\n

Personal records:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
 <\/td>\nAnne<\/td>\nMyke<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
100-metre hurdles<\/td>\n14.17<\/td>\n14.36<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shot put<\/td>\n10.45m<\/td>\n10.39m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
High jump<\/td>\n1.60m<\/td>\n1.56m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
200 metres<\/td>\n24.72<\/td>\n24.62<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Long jump<\/td>\n5.62m<\/td>\n5.83m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Javelin throw<\/td>\n40.02m<\/td>\n39.42m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
800 metres<\/td>\n2.24.25<\/td>\n2.28.50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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