'A real winner

never quits'

Joost van der Burg

Student Fiscale Economie

Joost van der Burg is a track cycler for the Dutch team. When he is not on a bike, he is studying Fiscale Economie. He plans to finish his Bachelor in 2017.

Ambition

In four years’ time, I want the gap closed between the Dutch team pursuers, currently 8th team of the world, and the quicker teams, in order to be a medal contender in Tokyo 2020. The team pursuit is a time trial with four riders covering 4km. In order to achieve this, I have to give up a lot, not just missing out on social activities. The athlete life can be quite hard, and sometimes even unpleasant when you are training so hard that getting out of your bed in the morning feels like a big effort. In 2016 I competed in the Olympic Games, a dream come true.

Combining Cycling and University

In the pre-olympic year I missed most of my exams due to training camps or races abroad. I focused less on studying to make the most of this year and seize the opportunity to compete in Rio. The study advisors of Erasmus School of Economics have been very cooperative in sorting out different problems related to the combination of sports and study.

If everything goes as planned, I will have finished my master in 2019, and have one year to focus 100% on the Tokyo Olympics.

'If I can train every day,

I can study every day.'

Eline Berger

Student Double Degree in Economics & Business Economics and Law

Eline is proof that the sport of rowing is not reserved just for tall people. Good things come in small packages and this young lady combines rowing at Skadi with her studies Economics and Business Economics and Law.

At Skadi she decided to focus on coxswaining. A coxswain is someone who ensures the rowing goes smoothly, effectively motivates the crew and ensures the boat stays on course. A coxswain brings the rowers together and makes sure they gel as a collective rather than remaining a set of individuals.

Unknown territory

‘I didn’t know anyone in Rotterdam when I came here for my studies. Skadi was a good place to start because it combines both athletic and social activities.’ She never thought about becoming a coxswain until she was asked by the Men’s Club eight. Eline said yes and was able to pick it up very quickly. According to Eline she also said yes because she enjoyed the responsibility of streamlining a group of athletes who are only occupied with going all out when competing. ‘They have faith in you. But the competition itself also brings an adrenaline rush, making decisions in the heat of battle while staying focused enough to be able to manoeuvre and stay on course.’

'Winning the Varsity made

all the effort worthwhile.'

David Fox

Student Economics and Philosophy

David has been a rower at Skadi for four years now, but when he started he never expected that things would turn out as they have.

During the Eurekaweek he signed up with Skadi so he would have something to do during his time as a student, but he never intended to become a competitive rower. But several victories and a placement for the World University Rowing Championships in South Korea later, it appears that rowing has been more than just a passing interest to ‘kill some time’.

Varsity

In this photograph he’s holding a picture of his Varsity victory in 2015. For all student rowers in the Netherlands, the Varsity is a competition they look forward to. It’s a competition that decides which student rowing club will have the prestige of being named the winner of rowing’s most important competition until the following year. This is the most prestigious and oldest regatta in the Netherlands.

Following their victory a few hundred Skadians (wearing only a tie in keeping with tradition) jumped into the water of the Amsterdam Rijnkanaal to celebrate. Later that day the victors were welcomed at Rotterdam Central Station by a large group of fellow members who had arranged a golden coach with white horses for the winners. A long procession made up of hundreds of Skadi members moved across Rotterdam in the coach’s wake on the way to the RSC where the award ceremony took place. The party to celebrate the victory continued long into the night.

David described it as ‘the moment that made all the effort and hard work put into rowing worthwhile’. It’s really a special achievement to win a competition like that in your third year of rowing.

Studies

In addition to his study in Economics, David will also be studying philosophy after the summer. While combining rowing and studying was difficult at first, after a while both activities complemented each other. ‘After spending time studying you need some exercise, and the time spent studying is the rest you need after rowing. It also results in leading a sort of double life - you’re a student and a rower.’