In this article, we share more about student-athlete Lucas van Rooij. At the end of the article, you’ll also find a video where Lucas shares more about himself.
Sports: Men’s Swimming
Entry semester: Fall 2025
Seventeen-year-old Lucas van Rooij lives in Eindhoven and currently trains with PSV. He is enrolled in the IB program at the International School Eindhoven. Lucas has a mixed background, with a Dutch father and Brazilian mother. During his youth, Lucas lived in various places around the world, growing up in Tobago before moving to Switzerland, the United States, Ireland, and eventually the Netherlands.
Lucas has a diverse sports background. He started swimming when he was around 6 or 7 years old, but during his time in America, he also practiced other sports such as American football, basketball, and baseball while continuing to train in swimming. Eventually, he decided to focus solely on swimming, as he feels there is always something new to learn. For him, swimming is an art in which one can continually grow and improve.
What makes Lucas special as a person is his open-minded and extroverted nature. He believes that if you want to be the best, it’s important to listen to others and be open to their ideas. Lucas enjoys meeting new people, going on adventures, and traveling the world. This curiosity and desire to learn from others define him both in and out of sports.
What makes Lucas special as an athlete is his unparalleled drive to improve by at least one percent every day. Whether it’s his sleep, nutrition, or focus during training, he is willing to give everything to achieve his goals. During his time in the United States, Lucas aims not only to win an NCAA championship but also to build strong bonds with his teammates and coaches. His ultimate life goal is to make it to the Olympics—not just to participate, but to stand on the podium during the awards ceremony.
” If you want to be great, you have to hear what other people have to say. I want to be great “
Lucas van Rooij
Would you like to see more of Lucas? Check out the video below where he introduces himself: