Athletic Background

Laura has been a member of De Dolfijn since the start of her artistic swimming career. At the age of thirteen, she was invited to join the senior free combination team. As there were no age restrictions at the time, this gave her early exposure to senior-level competition, which became a key factor in her development.

From that moment on, Laura fully committed herself to reaching the top of the sport. In her final Youth year, De Dolfijn entered a junior team at the Dutch Junior Championships (NJK). Shortly before the event, Laura and her duet partner also decided to compete in the free duet, adapting a routine from the previous season. This proved highly successful, as they won both the national qualifying competition and the Dutch Junior Championships. Prior to this breakthrough, Laura had mainly achieved second- and third-place finishes at national competitions with duet and team routines, alongside multiple podium finishes at regional competitions in technical figures, duet, and team events. Winning at the national level opened a new perspective for her and significantly increased her motivation to push even further.

Following NJK, Laura was assigned a solo for the Youth National Championships. Competing individually allowed her to focus fully on her own performance and contributed strongly to her development. At NK Youth, she finished third in individual technical figures, placing herself above several swimmers who were part of the Dutch national team. This result reflected her dominance in regional technical competitions, where she frequently finished first against national-team athletes.

Because of this performance, she had then been invited to train with the Dutch national youth team. The following season, she joined the national youth program, experiencing an intense and demanding training environment. Her progress was rapid, and competing internationally for the first time with the team in Prague was a major milestone. There, she achieved a third-place finish in individual technical figures and a second-place finish with the team.

Later that season, Laura competed at her first Dutch Senior Championships, earning second place with the team in both the technical and free routines. Shortly afterward, she represented the Netherlands in Belgium with her solo, gaining valuable experience despite not medaling.

One month later, at the next NJK, she placed third in duet technical, second in duet free, and achieved two fourth-place finishes with the team. One week later, Laura competed with De Dolfijn’s senior team at an international competition in Malta. Despite minimal preparation time and a last-minute position change in the team routine, they won gold in the team event. Laura also earned first place in junior duet technical and second place in solo. 

Later, Laura competed in senior free combination, earning bronze at the national qualifier and ultimately becoming Dutch National Champion at NK. This marked the first national team title for De Dolfijn in ten years and the final championship ever awarded in the free combination category.

Currently, Laura is preparing for the Dutch Championships in the acrobatic routine, where she has discovered a strong aptitude for lifts and aerial skills, including performing as a flyer with salto elements. She continues to compete regularly in senior technical figure competitions, where she consistently places on the podium.

Strengths

Laura’s greatest strength lies in her technical ability. She excels in elements such as barracudas, spins, and twirls and adapts well to the demands of the new judging system. Her height is a significant asset, particularly in lifts and acrobatic elements, where she consistently achieves strong elevation and stability. She is highly disciplined, detail-oriented, and capable of maintaining focus across multiple event formats, including solo, duet, and team routines.

Athletic Goals

Laura’s primary goal is to continue improving as an artistic swimmer by working hard, developing her skills, and enjoying the process at a high level. While she aspires to progress toward national and international competitions, her focus remains on long-term development, consistent performance, and combining elite sport with strong academic achievement.

Academics and extra curricular activities:

Laura is a highly motivated student at Vossius Gymnasium, one of the Netherlands’ most academically rigorous secondary schools. In addition to balancing her demanding training schedule, she takes an active leadership role as President of the Student Council, representing the interests of her fellow students and contributing to school-wide initiatives. She is also a member of her school’s European Youth Parliament (EYP) team, where she develops her critical thinking, public speaking, and debate skills through discussions on international and societal issues.

Since her first year of secondary school, Laura has participated in the Cambridge English Programme, already earning a C1 Advanced English certificate and preparing to complete an additional Cambridge qualification this year.

Laura has explored her interest in medicine through short internships at the Amsterdam UMC (Oncology Department) and the BovenIJ Hospital (Dermatology Department), where she also gained experience at the dermatology clinic Skinsensible. She has additionally applied for Pre-University Masterclasses at Leiden University, reflecting her ambition to further challenge herself academically.

Beyond the classroom, Laura is actively involved in volunteer work within her artistic swimming club, coaching younger athletes and assisting with the organization of competitions. She also enjoys playing the piano, regularly performing at both her music school and school concerts. Outside of sports and academics, she enjoys reading, (wind)surfing, scuba diving, and creative hobbies such as sewing, knitting, and crocheting.