CLEVERING Ymkje

General
DISAPPOINTMENT TURNS TO PRIDE
She was initially disappointed after winning silver in the women's four at the 2019 World Championships in Linz Ottensheim, Austria. "I found it difficult at first. When we won the silver, it was disappointing. For me, there is a big difference between winning silver or gold. One is just a medal and the other means you are the best, and I want to be the best. That's my drive. Some people take energy from recognition, but I don't. I do it for myself. The next day I saw Roos [De Jong] win bronze in double sculls and I was over the moon. Then I thought about myself, and I realised what we had achieved. Finally I was happy with our performance." (sportinstad.nl, 10 Jan 2020)

PROJECT 2020
When she took up rowing in 2015, she was selected for the Dutch 'Project 2020' programme that was aimed at preparing athletes for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. "I reported that I would not be able to train full-time in Amsterdam for the first two years because of my studies, but I could do it from 2017 onwards for the three years leading up to the Games. I trained with AGSR Gyas in Groningen and in the winter I went to Amsterdam during the weekends to train with Project 2020. That I was selected to be part of this programme gave me confirmation that I was capable. It has been a great adventure." (sportinstad.nl, 10 Jan 2020)