VANHOVE Bruno

Classification
B3 (ibsasport.org, 22 Dec 2019)

Type of Impairment
Vision impairment (Facebook page, 11 Mar 2020)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (Paralympic Team Belgium Guide, 29 Jul 2021)

Impairment Details
He has retinopathy of prematurity, a vision impairment caused by premature birth. (Paralympic Team Belgium Guide, 29 Jul 2021)

General
SIBLINGS
He is a sextuplet. He and his five siblings Tom, Jelle, Arne, Veerle, and Lode were born in August 1983, which was a surprise to his parents as the ultrasound scans had shown 'only' four babies. "The whole world was in my mother's room in the Fabiola Hospital in Blankenberge [in Belgium]. The first press photos were taken before my grandparents could congratulate my mother. [It was] a traumatic experience for the family. They wanted to be a normal family. Because after the disbelief, my parents quickly realised: we don't have much time to stop. We have to get through it. [We have to] search for solutions. Where are we going to live? Where are we going to find help? How are we going to organise [ourselves]? Without having made the decision, my parents suddenly had a family of eight." (Facebook page, 04 Mar 2020)

THREE BROTHERS
His brothers Tom and Arne have also represented the Belgium national goalball team. "For many people it is very special. For me as well, but it's the only thing I have known. Most of our careers we've been playing together. It is something I really enjoy. I always prefer the best team on the court. So, if that means the three of us can play together in a game, it is great and a very special achievement. But I value my other team members as much as my brothers. In the end it's about performance, not about family ties." (paralympic.org, 08 Jan 2019)

FURTHER EDUCATION
He obtained a master's degree in sports and fitness administration at KU Leuven in Belgium. (LinkedIn profile, 01 Jun 2019)